Veteran-owned elder law and estate planning firm based in Butler, with offices in Erie, Cranberry Township, Franklin, Greenville and Indiana serving Western Pennsylvania. Handles probate, estate and trust administration from a free initial consultation through the executor or administrator appointment, alongside guardianships, Medicaid planning and asset protection; meetings are in person, by video or by phone.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Butler County, Pennsylvania
How probate works in Butler County: the Orphans' Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Butler County Orphans' Court
Butler County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Office
Butler County Government Center, 124 West Diamond Street, Level LL, Butler, PA 16001
Website
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Estates page lists what the office needs to probate a will and its filing requirements, including a typed petition, the original will and death certificate and the executor in person. Staff are not licensed to give legal advice.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Money order, Credit card, Debit card.County filing fees are paid by cash, U.S. money order, an attorney's or bank certified check, or credit or debit card; personal and estate checks are not accepted for them. Probate checks are payable to Register of Wills, and the legal journal fee is a separate check to Butler County Legal Journal.
County forms
- Register of Wills Fee ScheduleThe Register of Wills fees for letters by estate value, probate, inventories and other filings.
- Butler County Virtual Probate ProcessThe steps for an attorney-represented probate by Zoom: the documents emailed in advance, the oath and the mailing of originals and payment.
P.O. Box 1208
Butler, PA 16003
Fax
1-724-284-5278
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Butler 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 Butler, probate runs through the Orphans' Court at Butler County Government Center, 124 West Diamond Street, Level LL, Butler.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Pennsylvania intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Pennsylvania estates take 9 months to 14 months to move through this process. Creditors have 12 months20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3162, 3381-3392, 3532Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Butler County
What probate costs in Butler County, Pennsylvania comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Orphans' Court at Butler County Government Center, 124 West Diamond Street, Level LL, Butler.
The Orphans' Court charges $50 - $950+ (based on estate value)42 P.S. § 21022.1; 42 Pa.C.S. § 3733; 204 Pa. Code § 29.351(c), (g)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open a probate case. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Pennsylvania are negotiated, typically 1.9%Modeled estimate under In re Trust Estate of LaRocca, 431 Pa. 542, 246 A.2d 337 (1968); In re Estate of Preston, 560 A.2d 160, 165 (Pa. Super. 1989); Estate of Andrews, 2026 PA Super 168 (no statutory fee schedule): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3%Modeled estimate under In re Trust Estate of LaRocca, 431 Pa. 542, 246 A.2d 337 (1968); In re Estate of Preston, 560 A.2d 160, 165 (Pa. Super. 1989); Estate of Andrews, 2026 PA Super 168 (no statutory fee schedule): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Pennsylvania allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules pay20 Pa.C.S. § 3537 (compensation "reasonable and just"; no statutory percentage); In re Estate of Sonovick, 541 A.2d 374, 376 (Pa. Super. 1988); Estate of Andrews, 2026 PA Super 168Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Pennsylvania requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3171, 3174 (bond before letters except as § 3174 provides; a PA-resident PR named in the will or sole residuary legatee excused); § 3175 (bond may still be required)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Pennsylvania typically runs 9 months to 14 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Orphans' Court
Probate cases in Butler County are filed at the Orphans' Court. File in person during business hours or by mail.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
In Pennsylvania, informal probate is available20 Pa.C.S. § 901 (register jurisdiction over probate and letters), § 3155 (register grants letters), § 908 (appeal from the register's decree to the Orphans' Court)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, and a self-represented executor can usually handle it for a simple, uncontested estate.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Butler County Self-Filing Assessment.
Butler County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Document Requirements
Filing requirements for estates
Petitions for letters are signed by the personal representative in the office, non-subscribing witnesses appear in person, and renunciations and subscribing witness forms signed outside the office are notarized. A reasonable estimated value is required, since an unknown gross value is not accepted, and a bond is required of every out-of-state executor or administrator unless the will excuses it.
SourceOther Requirements
No local rules govern Orphans' Court practice
Since September 1, 2016 Butler County has had no local rules governing Orphans' Court practice; the statewide Orphans' Court rules apply.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Orphans' Court: Original will and any codicils, presented to the Register of Wills of the county of the decedent’s last family or principal residence (20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3131, 3132); Original (raised-seal) death certificate, presented at the county Register of Wills — county intake practice, not a statutory, rule, or statewide-form requirement for a grant of letters; Completed RW-02 Petition for Grant of Letters (rev. 10/11/2011), including the Oath of Personal Representative on page 220 Pa.C.S. §§ 3155-3157 (persons entitled; nonresidents); § 901 (register’s jurisdiction)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Coroner in Butler County
In Butler County certified copies of the death certificate come from Pennsylvania Department of Health - Division of Vital Records; the Local Registrar files the certificate and issues no copies to the public.
Vital Records Office Record
Pennsylvania Department of Health - Division of Vital Records
Butler County · State vital records office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM (except holidays; Philadelphia by appointment only)
Website
Certified copies
From Pennsylvania Department of Health - Division of Vital Records; the Local Registrar files the certificate and issues no copies to the public
Division of Vital Records
Death Certificate Processing Unit
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
Phone
1-724-656-3100Monday-Friday 7:15 AM-6:00 PM; Saturday-Sunday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $20 |
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
Butler County · Butler County Coroner's Office
Phone
Office
107 Woody Drive, Butler, PA 16001
Website
Release of remains
1-724-287-7769 · After hours
Cremation authorization
Signed by this office
Mail and offices
P.O. Box 1208
Butler, PA 16003
Fax
1-724-477-3157
Verified November 3, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Butler County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Recorder of Deeds.
Deeds and other real property documents for Butler County are recorded with the Recorder of Deeds at Butler County Government Center, 124 West Diamond Street, Floor L, Butler, PA 16001. Phone: 1-724-284-5340. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 1208, Butler, PA 16003.
The Recorder of Deeds charges $88 for the first 4 pages plus $2 for each page beyond 4.
Recording Office Record
Recorder of Deeds
Butler County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Office
Butler County Government Center, 124 West Diamond Street, Floor L, Butler, PA 16001
Website
P.O. Box 1208
Butler, PA 16003
Fax
1-724-285-9099
Recording fees
| Base fee (first 4 pages) | $87.75 |
| Each page beyond 4 | $2 |
County fee schedule adopted under the Recorder of Deeds Fee Law (Act 87 of 1982, 16 P.S. § 11011-1 et seq.), 42 Pa.C.S. § 3733(a.1)(1)(v), and 53 Pa.C.S. § 6011
Verified October 17, 2026 · Source
Forms that put a death on the title
- Free forms: Affidavit of Death Form · Affidavit of Heirship Form
Probate Attorneys Serving Butler County
Pennsylvania allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Butler County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Pennsylvania are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Butler County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Orphans' Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Estate planning and elder law firm based in Canonsburg (McMurray), with offices in Delmont and Cranberry Township, serving Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania. Guides personal representatives and trustees through Pennsylvania probate and trust administration from the first filing to the final distribution, including the inheritance tax return and estate inventory. Also handles Medicaid and veterans pension eligibility, special needs planning, and guardianships, with social workers on staff.
Grove City firm with a second office in Cranberry Township, serving Mercer, Lawrence, Butler, Venango, Allegheny, Beaver and Crawford counties. Handles estate administration from opening the estate and the executor's appointment through the inventory and appraisal, the PA inheritance tax and federal estate tax returns, family settlement agreements and the first and final account. Remote and phone consultations for wills and estates matters are free.
Erie County firm on West 10th Street in Erie, with a Pittsburgh office, whose Estate Planning & Administration Group handles estate administration with a team of estate administration paralegals it describes as the largest in the region. Also prepares wills and trusts, guardianships, special needs trusts and Medicaid asset protection plans.
Attorney Colt McKelvey practices from offices in Salix, serving the Johnstown area of Cambria County, and in Canonsburg, Washington County. The practice handles estate planning and estate administration, wills, trusts and powers of attorney, and elder law matters including long-term care and Medicaid planning and guardianships.
Harrisburg-based firm on Pine Street with Pennsylvania offices in Lancaster, York, Reading, State College, Pittsburgh, Plymouth Meeting and Radnor. Guides executors and trustees through estate and trust administration, including gathering assets, paying debts, inheritance, estate and income tax returns, fiduciary accountings and Orphans' Court petitions. Its fiduciary litigators handle surcharge actions, objections to accounts, elective share claims and guardianship proceedings in the Orphans' Court.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Legal Sources
(9)·
- 20 Pa.C.S. § 3537 (compensation "reasonable and just"; no statutory percentage); In re Estate of Sonovick, 541 A.2d 374, 376 (Pa. Super. 1988); Estate of Andrews, 2026 PA Super 168
- 20 Pa.C.S. § 901 (register jurisdiction over probate and letters), § 3155 (register grants letters), § 908 (appeal from the register's decree to the Orphans' Court)
- 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3155-3157 (persons entitled; nonresidents); § 901 (register’s jurisdiction)
- 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3162, 3381-3392, 3532
- 42 P.S. § 21022.1; 42 Pa.C.S. § 3733; 204 Pa. Code § 29.351(c), (g)
- County fee schedule adopted under the Recorder of Deeds Fee Law (Act 87 of 1982, 16 P.S. § 11011-1 et seq.), 42 Pa.C.S. § 3733(a.1)(1)(v), and 53 Pa.C.S. § 6011
- Butler Orphans' Court, official page
- Butler County Recorder of Deeds, official page
- Butler County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Pennsylvania statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Pennsylvania
Free tools for settling an estate in Pennsylvania: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool.
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
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
Can I Self-File Probate?
In Pennsylvania, informal probate is available20 Pa.C.S. § 901 (register jurisdiction over probate and letters), § 3155 (register grants letters), § 908 (appeal from the register's decree to the Orphans' Court)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, and a self-represented executor can usually handle it for a simple, uncontested estate.
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