Wilkes-Barre firm on South Franklin Street handling probate and estate administration in Luzerne County, Lackawanna County and the Poconos. Guides families through probate from reviewing the estate plan to identifying, valuing and distributing assets and paying debts and taxes, helps resolve disputes that arise, and prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney and health care directives; the first consultation is free.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
How probate works in Lackawanna County: the Orphans' Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Lackawanna County Orphans' Court
Lackawanna County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Office
Lackawanna County Government Center, 123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 521, Scranton, PA 18503
Website
Filing in person
Appointment required
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
Filing in person
Appointment requiredProbates are by appointment only. The office's phone number is 570-963-6702.
Self-represented filing
AllowedA person may open an estate without an attorney and acts as their own counsel; staff cannot give legal advice. The probate packet lists a typed petition, a typed Estate Information Sheet, the original will and an original death certificate, with every fee paid at filing.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Check, Credit card, Debit card.The office takes cash, check, credit and debit cards, and the Orphans' Court has a no-refund policy. Inheritance tax checks are payable to "Register of Wills, Agent".
Hearing schedule
- Accounts are advertised from the first Friday of January, March, May, July, September and November and go to the court on the last Tuesday of those months.
County forms
- Probate PacketThe Register of Wills' instructions for probate and the filings that follow it, with the forms.
- Affidavit by Pro Se PetitionerThe affidavit a personal representative signs in the Register of Wills office to administer the estate without a lawyer.
- Frequently Asked QuestionsThe Register of Wills' answers on opening an estate, copies of wills and inheritance tax.
- Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court Fee ScheduleThe court-approved fees for grants of letters by estate value, accounts and other filings.
Fax
1-570-963-6377
About the court
- The Register of Wills is also the Clerk of the Orphans' Court.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna County, probate runs through the Orphans' Court at Lackawanna County Government Center, 123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 521, Scranton.
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 Lackawanna County
What probate costs in Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna County Government Center, 123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 521, Scranton.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: Accounts are advertised and submitted every other month.
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 Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna County Self-Filing Assessment.
Lackawanna County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Self-represented personal representatives sign a pro se affidavit
A personal representative who administers the estate without paid counsel signs an affidavit in the Register of Wills office taking responsibility for every required filing, and receives the Rule 10.5 and 10.6 forms. The fee schedule lists separate charges for the pro se affidavit and pro se advertising.
SourceDocument Requirements
A copy of a will is probated only after a hearing
The original will is required to open an estate. Where the original cannot be found, a hearing before the Register of Wills is scheduled to probate a copy.
SourceOther Requirements
The Lackawanna Jurist is the legal periodical
Notices that must run in a legal periodical, including the estate advertisement, are published in the Lackawanna Jurist.
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 Lackawanna County
In Lackawanna 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
Lackawanna 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
Lackawanna County · Lackawanna County Coroner's Office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
Northeast Forensic Center, 1302 Madison Avenue, Dunmore, PA 18509
Website
Cremation authorization
Signed by this office
Mail and offices
Fax
1-570-963-6665
Verified November 3, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna County are recorded with the Recorder of Deeds at Lackawanna County Government Center, 123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 218, Scranton, PA 18503. Phone: 1-570-963-6775. Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM.
The Recorder of Deeds charges $100 for the first 4 pages plus $2 for each page beyond 4.
Lackawanna County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC and ePN.
Recording Office Record
Recorder of Deeds
Lackawanna County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
Lackawanna County Government Center, 123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 218, Scranton, PA 18503
Website
E-recording
Fax
1-570-963-6390
Recording fees
| Base fee (first 4 pages) | $99.75 |
| 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 Lackawanna County
Pennsylvania allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna 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.
Blakely firm on the Scranton/Carbondale Highway where attorneys John and Michael Krisa practice in the Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Carbondale areas. Represents executors administering estates, from identifying assets and paying bills and inheritance tax to distribution within the Pennsylvania deadlines, handles intestate estates and will contests, and prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney and Medicaid long-term care plans.
Scranton solo practice of Anne Marie Howells on West Market Street, serving Lackawanna County and the surrounding Wyoming, Wayne, Susquehanna and Luzerne Counties. Handles probate administration, including dealings with the register of wills and post-death distribution of property, and prepares wills, financial and medical powers of attorney and living wills; consultations are also held by phone.
Lackawanna County firm with offices in Carbondale and Dunmore serving northeastern Pennsylvania. Its attorneys help executors and administrators through probate and estate administration, from collecting assets and preparing inventories and tax returns to representing them at necessary hearings. The firm also handles estate planning, elder law including guardianship and Medicaid planning, and special needs planning.
Moosic firm in Lackawanna County led by founding attorney Corey O'Brien. Helps executors, administrators, and trustees through Pennsylvania probate and trust administration, from obtaining Letters from the Register of Wills to filing the inventory, addressing inheritance tax, and distributing the estate. The firm also handles elder law and Medicaid planning, special needs planning, and estate planning.
Three-attorney firm with its main office in the Archbald area (Olyphant mailing address) and a second office on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre, representing estates in Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Monroe counties and the Poconos. Handles probate and estate administration before the register of wills and the orphans' court, prepares wills and trusts, and maintains fiduciary ledgers, makes distributions to beneficiaries, and prepares fiduciary tax returns.
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
- Lackawanna County Orphans' Court, official page
- Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds, official page
- Lackawanna 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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