Erie firm at 300 State Street, founded in 1897, practicing in all counties of northwestern Pennsylvania. Represents clients in the probate and administration of decedents' estates, conservatorships and guardianships, advises individual and corporate fiduciaries, and handles post-mortem tax elections, disclaimers and family settlement agreements. Represents clients in audits, appeals and litigation in Orphans' Court and before the IRS in estate and gift tax matters.
Probate in Venango County
Probate Court Record
Venango County Orphans' Court
Venango County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Office
Venango County Courthouse, 1168 Liberty Street, 2nd Floor, Franklin, PA 16323
Website
Self-represented filing
Allowed
How to file probate in Venango County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Venango County? →Settling an estate in Venango County →
Trust Administration Firms Serving Venango County
Harrisburg firm on Linglestown Road, opened in 2005, with a second office in Newport, representing executors, trustees, guardians, and beneficiaries across Pennsylvania. Probates wills for in-state and out-of-state executors, handles ancillary probate, trust administration, and estate tax returns, and litigates will contests, claims against fiduciaries, and demands for accounting or removal of trustees and executors.
All 3 Pennsylvania trust administration firms serving Venango 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.
Get Started
Free
Pour-Over Will
In Pennsylvania, a pour-over will needs no witnesses to be valid20 Pa.C.S. § 2502Verified Oct 19, 2026View source and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
Get Started
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 Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Pennsylvania happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust Code20 Pa.C.S. § 7701 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 30 days20 Pa.C.S. § 7780.3Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
What's Fair Trustee Compensation?
In Pennsylvania, trustee compensation follows "reasonable compensation" (UTC § 708 or equivalent)20 Pa.C.S. § 7768Verified Sep 18, 2026View source unless the trust instrument sets a different amount.
Calculate the Fee
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.
See the Steps
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Pennsylvania requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 104072 P.S. § 7302Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Get the Answer
How Does Step-Up in Basis Work?
Inherited assets in Pennsylvania take a basis reset to fair market value on the date of death26 USC § 1014Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the gain on a later sale faces ordinary income tax at the state's regular rates72 P.S. § 7302 (Tax Reform Code of 1971, Article III) — flat 3.07% individual rateVerified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Calculate the Tax
