What to Do When Someone Dies in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Probate in Delaware County runs through the Orphans' Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Delaware County, settling their estate runs through the Orphans' Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Orphans' Court
Delaware County
Address
Government Center, 201 West Front StreetMedia, PA 19063
Paper filing availableE-filing optionalAppointment requiredSelf-filing allowed
Accepted paymentCheck, Money order, Credit card. Payment by check/money order or credit card (a convenience fee applies to credit cards). See the ROW Fee Schedule.
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 Delaware County, probate runs through the Orphans' Court at Government Center, 201 West Front Street, Media. Delaware County runs probate e-filing through delcopa.seamlessdocs.com, its own system rather than a shared statewide portal.
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. The 12 months20 Pa.C.S. § 3532 (one year from first complete advertisement of the grant of letters — a risk-distribution protection period for the personal representative, not a nonclaim bar)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Delaware County
What probate costs in Delaware 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 Government Center, 201 West Front Street, Media.
Probate matters are handled through Probate, Orphans' Court, and General Information & Inheritance Tax. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
Local procedures at this court that affect cost: Check, money order, or credit card accepted. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
The Orphans' Court charges $50 - $950+ (based on estate value)42 P.S. § 21022.1; 42 Pa.C.S. § 3733Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open a probate case. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
The Orphans' Court accepts e-filing (https://delcopa.seamlessdocs.com/ng/fa/eFileStatusCertifications). Paper filing remains available for self-represented filers.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Pennsylvania are negotiated, typically 1.9%No statutory fee schedule; the Orphans' Court reviews reasonableness under In re Trust Estate of LaRocca, 431 Pa. 542, 246 A.2d 337 (1968). County percentage guidelines are not law — "[e]gregious error is committed when a court awards commissions and fees simply on a percentage basis without inquiry into the reasonableness of the compensation" (In re Estate of Preston, 560 A.2d 160, 165 (Pa. Super. 1989), quoted in Estate of Andrews, 2026 PA Super 168)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3%No statutory fee schedule; the Orphans' Court reviews reasonableness under In re Trust Estate of LaRocca, 431 Pa. 542, 246 A.2d 337 (1968). County percentage guidelines are not law — "[e]gregious error is committed when a court awards commissions and fees simply on a percentage basis without inquiry into the reasonableness of the compensation" (In re Estate of Preston, 560 A.2d 160, 165 (Pa. Super. 1989), quoted in Estate of Andrews, 2026 PA Super 168)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Pennsylvania requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3171, 3174 (bond required before letters except as § 3174 provides; a PA-resident PR named in the will, or a PA-resident sole residuary legatee/next of kin, is excused by operation of law); § 3175 (court or register may still require bond)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 Delaware 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. Delaware County is one of 12 Pennsylvania counties that accept probate e-filing; most probate courts in the state still take filings on paper.
Filings here are routed through Probate, Orphans' Court, and General Information & Inheritance Tax. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Orphans' Court is realistic.
An appointment is required to file in person. 30-minute in-person and virtual probate appointments offered. Call the probate front desk at 610-891-4400 for in-person; email materials to probate@co.delaware.pa.us for virtual. An Online Pre-Entry for Probate Form (optional) speeds up the appointment.
Accepted payment
Check, Money order, Credit card. Payment by check/money order or credit card (a convenience fee applies to credit cards). See the ROW Fee Schedule.
What to Bring
To file at the Orphans' Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Delaware 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 Delaware County are recorded with the Recorder of Deeds at Government Center, Room 108, 201 West Front Street, Media, PA 19063. Phone: (610) 891-4152. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (recording hours 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM).
The Recorder of Deeds charges $117 for the first 4 pages plus $4 for each page beyond 4.
Delaware County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile / CSC / EPN (eRecording Partners Network) / Indecomm Global Services.
Recording Office Record
Recorder of Deeds
Delaware County · Recorder of Deeds
Address
Government Center, Room 108, 201 West Front StreetMedia, PA 19063
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
Pennsylvania allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Delaware 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 — typically 1.9%No statutory fee schedule; the Orphans' Court reviews reasonableness under In re Trust Estate of LaRocca, 431 Pa. 542, 246 A.2d 337 (1968). County percentage guidelines are not law — "[e]gregious error is committed when a court awards commissions and fees simply on a percentage basis without inquiry into the reasonableness of the compensation" (In re Estate of Preston, 560 A.2d 160, 165 (Pa. Super. 1989), quoted in Estate of Andrews, 2026 PA Super 168)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3%No statutory fee schedule; the Orphans' Court reviews reasonableness under In re Trust Estate of LaRocca, 431 Pa. 542, 246 A.2d 337 (1968). County percentage guidelines are not law — "[e]gregious error is committed when a court awards commissions and fees simply on a percentage basis without inquiry into the reasonableness of the compensation" (In re Estate of Preston, 560 A.2d 160, 165 (Pa. Super. 1989), quoted in Estate of Andrews, 2026 PA Super 168)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Delaware 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.
Center City Philadelphia firm concentrating in probate, trust, and estate planning, with matters filed in the Philadelphia Register of Wills and Orphans' Court. Handles estate and trust administration, federal and state estate and gift tax, guardianships, and representation of executors, trustees, and beneficiaries.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 3 more
Office
1880 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 1740Philadelphia, PA 19103
Center City firm at One Logan Square whose Wills, Trusts, Estates and Taxes group serves Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. Prepares wills and trusts that minimize Pennsylvania inheritance and federal estate tax and administers estates through the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court.
Center City Philadelphia firm with a second office in Media, concentrating on estate planning, estate administration, tax planning, and real estate. Represents individuals across Greater Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley.
Full-service Media firm with a dedicated Trusts & Estates department handling wills, revocable trusts, estate tax planning, probate administration, guardianships, and Orphans' Court litigation for Delaware County clients.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 4 more
West Conshohocken firm in Montgomery County concentrating in estate and trust planning, administration, and fiduciary litigation for individuals and families. Litigates regularly before the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court across the Philadelphia suburbs, representing executors, trustees, agents, and beneficiaries in will and trust disputes.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 3 more
Office
1001 Conshohocken State Road, Suite 1-300West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Wayne firm serving Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery county families, with a West Chester office by appointment. Practice is confined to estate and elder work: estate administration and probate, trusts, guardianships and contested guardianships, special needs planning, long-term care planning, and estate tax matters. Meets by video as well as in person.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawTax Planningand 3 more
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.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Delaware County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
