Lancaster firm on East King Street whose Trusts & Estates Practice Group works across south-central and southeastern Pennsylvania, with main offices in Gettysburg, Hanover, Camp Hill, Lebanon, Malvern, Wyomissing, Schuylkill Haven and York. Guides personal representatives through estate administration and assists trustees, guardians and agents under powers of attorney with their fiduciary duties. Trust and estate litigators handle will contests, surcharge actions and contested guardianship proceedings.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
How probate works in Cumberland County: the Orphans' Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Cumberland County Orphans' Court
Cumberland County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
Cumberland County Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Square, 1st Floor, Suite 102, Carlisle, PA 17013
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Appointment required
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
OptionalA new estate can be opened through Virtual Probate: the petition, death certificate, will, witness oaths and renunciations are uploaded online, the petitioner signs the petition during a video conference, and the original documents and payment are mailed to the office. Documents for an estate already open are scanned and emailed to the office. Guardians may file the inventory and annual reports online through the statewide Guardianship Tracking System, with an access code from the Clerk of the Orphans' Court.
Filing in person
Appointment requiredDropping off probate documents in person is by appointment; call 717-240-6345. A new estate can also be probated remotely through Virtual Probate, with the petition signed during a video conference.
Self-represented filing
AllowedA lawyer is not required to probate. The office posts the petition and estate forms and checklists, and its clerks cannot give legal advice.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Check, Money order.Probate fees are paid by cash or check at the office, or by check or money order sent with the originals after a Virtual Probate. Checks are payable to Register of Wills.
Hearing schedule
- Accounts are audited and confirmed at 1:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. An account is filed by the confirmation date of the month before, as the schedule of accounts and audits sets out.
County forms
- Account Filing ChecklistWhat to file with an account submitted for confirmation in the Orphans' Court.
- Rule 5.50 Settlement of Small Estate by Petition ChecklistWhat a petition to settle a small estate must include and attach.
- Small Estate AffidavitThe office's affidavit for collecting small insurance proceeds without a decree.
Fax
1-717-240-7797
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Cumberland 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 Cumberland County, probate runs through the Orphans' Court at Cumberland County Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Square, 1st Floor, Suite 102, Carlisle. Cumberland County runs probate e-filing through cumberlandcountypa.seamlessdocs.com, the only Pennsylvania county on that system.
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 Cumberland County
What probate costs in Cumberland 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 Cumberland County Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Square, 1st Floor, Suite 102, Carlisle.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: Probate fee adjusted to the estate's actual value.
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 documents in Cumberland County can be filed in person at the Orphans' Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available. Cumberland County is one of 15 Pennsylvania counties that accept probate e-filing; most probate courts in the state still take filings on paper.
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 Cumberland County Self-Filing Assessment.
Cumberland 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
What to bring to probate a will
Bring the completed petition for probate and grant of letters, the original will and codicils, the death certificate, the executor in person with valid photo identification, and the witnesses with photo identification unless the will is self-proved. A will in another language needs a certified English translation.
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 Cumberland County
In Cumberland 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
Cumberland 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
Cumberland County · Coroner
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
6375 Basehore Road, Suite 1, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Website
Release of remains
1-717-238-9676 · Emergency phone
Mail and offices
Fax
1-717-960-5595
Verified November 3, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Cumberland 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 Cumberland County are recorded with the Recorder of Deeds at Cumberland County Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Square, 1st Floor, Carlisle, PA 17013. Phone: 1-717-240-6370. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
The Recorder of Deeds charges $105 for the first 4 pages plus $2 for each page beyond 4.
Cumberland County accepts electronic recording through ePN, CSC and Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
Recorder of Deeds
Cumberland County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
Cumberland County Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Square, 1st Floor, Carlisle, PA 17013
Website
E-recording
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first 4 pages) | $104.75 |
| 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 Cumberland County
Pennsylvania allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Cumberland 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 Cumberland 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.
Lemoyne firm at 301 Market Street, where its practice opened in 1914, with offices in Wyomissing, Lancaster and Lewistown serving Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Berks and Mifflin Counties. Guides executors and administrators through estate administration, from cataloging assets to paying debts, filing tax returns and distributing to beneficiaries, administers trusts and guardianships, and litigates estate and trust disputes between beneficiaries and trustees.
Harrisburg firm on North Front Street, with offices in Trevose and Sunbury and more than 50 years of service across Pennsylvania. Its estates and trusts attorneys guide executors and beneficiaries through probate proceedings, trust administration and contested estate matters. Also handles guardianships, special needs trusts, and elder law and Medicaid long-term care planning.
Lemoyne office of a south-central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland firm, serving Cumberland County, with further Pennsylvania offices in Carlisle, Shippensburg, Chambersburg, Waynesboro, Gettysburg, Hanover, York, Lebanon, and Lancaster. Handles probate and estate administration for families after a death, trust administration and trustee guidance, and estate planning with wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and Medicaid planning.
Harrisburg firm on North Front Street, founded in 1953, serving clients in Harrisburg, Hershey, Lebanon, Carlisle, and the surrounding communities. Its estate practice, run primarily by attorney Jill M. Wineka, prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, letters of intent, and guardianship designations, and the firm also handles probate.
Central Pennsylvania firm with offices in York, Lancaster, and Mechanicsburg. Represents executors handling probate after a death and litigates will contests, trust disputes, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and guardianship challenges throughout Pennsylvania. Its estate planning attorneys cite more than 30 years of experience.
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
- Cumberland County Orphans' Court, official page
- Cumberland County Recorder of Deeds, official page
- Cumberland 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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