Estate Planning & Probate in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Most Allegheny County estate questions come down to one fork: avoid probate before a death, or work through it after one. Start with your situation below; both paths use Allegheny County's actual court and recording details.
The Probate Process in Allegheny County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Allegheny County, probate runs through the Orphans' Court at City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, 1st Floor, Pittsburgh.
Full Allegheny Countyprobate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
Orphans' Court
Allegheny County
Address
City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, 1st FloorPittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Paper filing availableE-filing optional
How to file probate in Allegheny County→Recording Deeds & Property Documents
Recording Office Record
Recorder of Deeds
Allegheny County · Recorder of Deeds
Address
County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, Room 101Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
E-recording
Available via Simplifile / CSCE-recording info →
$28.5 base recording fee; $4.5 per additional page; required form fees may include REV-183 Statement of Value ($0); TOD deeds are generally transfer-tax exempt.
Full recording details →Verified March 22, 2026 · Source
Frequently Asked Questions
The Orphans' Court for Allegheny County is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Full address, phone, hours, and e-filing details are listed on this page.
Yes. E-filing is available but optional in Allegheny County. Many families filing without an attorney prefer paper filing at the Orphans' Court; both are accepted.
No. Pennsylvania allows estates under $50,000 to use a small estate affidavit and skip formal probate. There is no statutory waiting period. Use the Pennsylvania probate decision tool to see if the estate qualifies.
When there is no will, Pennsylvania's intestate succession rules decide who inherits. Spouses, children, and parents are prioritized in that order. The Allegheny County probate court applies the state rules without variation. See who inherits in Pennsylvania for the exact order.
A revocable living trust is the cleanest way for most families to skip probate entirely. Assets titled to the trust pass to beneficiaries without court involvement, filing fees, or the Allegheny County probate docket. Create a revocable trust online to avoid putting your family through this process later.
Pennsylvania Estate Planning Articles
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