Free Pennsylvania Petition for Probate

How to open probate in Pennsylvania: petition the Register of Wills of the county of the decedent’s domicile and request Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3155-3157.

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You & the Will

Pennsylvania provides an official fillable petition; we complete it for you.

Opening probate?The whole estate, start to finish.

State Where the Estate Will Be Probated*

The state where the decedent was domiciled. Only states where a self-represented filer can prepare this document are listed.

Did the decedent leave a will?*

Yes — there is a will (request Letters Testamentary)No — there is no will (request Letters of Administration)

Your First Name*

Middle Name

Your Last Name*

Your Relationship to the Decedent*

How you are related to the person who died. Being named executor in the will is asked separately.

Your Street Address*

City*

ZIP Code*

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Frequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania Probate Petitions

In Pennsylvania, you file a petition with Register of Wills of the county of the decedent’s domicile to open probate. The county Register of Wills issues Letters Testamentary (with a will) or Letters of Administration (no will) once the court grants the appointment. See how appointment works in Pennsylvania.

You cannot fill out Letters — they are issued by the court. The document you prepare and file is the petition (or application) for probate and for Letters. This tool prepares that petition for Pennsylvania.

Yes. Pennsylvania publishes a statewide fillable form, which this tool completes for you. After downloading, review and sign it, then file it with Register of Wills of the county of the decedent’s domicile.

Pennsylvania offers probate e-filing. Probate is filed at the county Register of Wills, not a central court e-filing system. Some counties (Montgomery, Philadelphia) offer electronic / virtual probate intake; many still require an in-person appearance to take the oath and pick up Letters and short certificates. E-filing availability, fees, and whether an appointment is needed vary by county.

Along with the petition, Pennsylvania typically requires: Original will and any codicils, presented to the Register of Wills of the county of the decedent’s last family or principal residence; Certified copy of the death certificate; Completed RW-02 Petition for Grant of Letters; Oath of subscribing / non-subscribing witness; Renunciation.

Opening Probate in Pennsylvania

Before anyone can act for a Pennsylvania estate, Register of Wills of the county of the decedent’s domicile must appoint a personal representative and issue Letters. Letters are the court's output — you can't fill them out. The document you file is the petition for probate and for Letters (20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3155-3157).

Pennsylvania publishes an official statewide petition form. This tool completes that form for you from a few questions about the decedent, the estate, and the heirs or beneficiaries. After downloading, you sign it and file it with the court in the county where the decedent lived.

You file the petition together with the supporting documents the court requires — typically a certified death certificate and, where there is a will, the original will. Pennsylvania does not require a bond by default before Letters issue. The court reviews the petition and, if it is in order, grants it and directs that Letters issue.