Probate in Berks County

Probate Court Record

Berks County Orphans' Court

Berks County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM

Office

Berks County Services Center, 633 Court Street, 2nd Floor, Reading, PA 19601

Filing in person

Appointment required

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in Berks County →

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in Berks County? →Settling an estate in Berks County →

Medicaid Planning Firms Serving Berks County

Fogelsville firm handling estates of any size through probate in Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, and Berks counties, with its probate attorney carrying 25 years of experience probating estates. Handles estate administration, inheritance tax planning and post-mortem planning to reduce death tax, and probate litigation and will contests, and prepares irrevocable asset protection trusts for Medicaid planning.

Serves 4 countiesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationAsset ProtectionMedicaid PlanningReal Estate

All 4 Pennsylvania Medicaid planning firms serving Berks County →

Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Pennsylvania

Free Pennsylvania forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Pennsylvania.

$12/month

Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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Healthcare Power of Attorney

Pennsylvania requires 220 Pa.C.S. § 5471 (combined example); § 5465 (HC agent form); § 5447 (living will form)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not required20 Pa.C.S. § 5471 (combined example); § 5465 (HC agent form); § 5447 (living will form)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source.

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Free

Financial Power of Attorney

Pennsylvania treats a power of attorney as durable by default20 Pa.C.S. § 5601Verified Sep 20, 2026View source, and it is signed before 220 Pa.C.S. § 5601Verified Oct 21, 2026View source witnesses and a notary.

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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Pennsylvania

Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Pennsylvania: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool.

How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Pennsylvania runs $3,830Estimate: 10 hours at $383, Clio's Pennsylvania Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,745Estimate: 15 hours at $383, Clio's Pennsylvania Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

Calculate Costs

What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Pennsylvania runs $3,830Estimate: 10 hours at $383, Clio's Pennsylvania Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,745Estimate: 15 hours at $383, Clio's Pennsylvania Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,014Estimate: 3 hours at $338, Clio's Pennsylvania Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,028Estimate: 6 hours at $338, Clio's Pennsylvania Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

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How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?

In Pennsylvania, four years at a public university cost about $114,932NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 17, 2026View source and the cost of living is near the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 17, 2026View source; an inheritance tax falls on beneficiaries72 P.S. § 9116Verified Sep 15, 2026View source by relationship.

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How Do I Settle an Estate?

Settling an estate in Pennsylvania: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 270 days20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3301-3303Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 12 months20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3162, 3381-3392, 3532Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.

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All Pennsylvania tools