Probate in Lehigh 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 Lehigh 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
Lehigh County
Address
Phone
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Hours
Verified July 4, 2026 · Source
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 Lehigh County, probate runs through the Orphans' Court at Lehigh County Courthouse, 455 West Hamilton Street, Room 122, Allentown. Lehigh County runs probate e-filing through efilepa.tylertech.cloud, 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 Lehigh 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 Lehigh County Courthouse, 455 West Hamilton Street, Room 122, Allentown.
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.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Orphans' Court (https://efilepa.tylertech.cloud/OfsEfsp). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
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.
If you're handling probate yourself in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, you can file at the Orphans' Court in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. Lehigh County is one of 12 Pennsylvania counties that accept probate e-filing; most probate courts in the state still take filings on paper.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Lehigh County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationPaper Filing Required For
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Orphans' Court is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Lehigh County Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Documents emailed for review before probate; virtual probate via Zoom for represented estates
All probate documents are emailed in one message to willsprobate@lehighcounty.org and reviewed before an appointment is scheduled by calling 610-782-3170 (8:30-11:00 AM and 2:00-3:00 PM). Virtual probate via Zoom requires an attorney to be present; no video conferencing for pro se estates. After the appointment, documents must be e-filed and the original will mailed or dropped off before Grant of Letters and short certificates are issued.
SourceBefore You Go
An appointment is required to file in person. Probate documents (completed petition, will if original is in hand, death certificate, photo ID, renunciations) are emailed to willsprobate@lehighcounty.org before a probate proceeding is scheduled. Appointments are scheduled by calling 610-782-3170 between 8:30-11:00 AM and 2:00-3:00 PM. Virtual probate is conducted via Zoom and requires an attorney; the original will is mailed or dropped off after the appointment.
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.
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 Lehigh County are recorded with the Recorder of Deeds at Lehigh County Courthouse, 455 West Hamilton Street, Room 122, Allentown, PA 18101. Phone: (610) 782-3162. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (GIS PIN certification 8:00 AM - 3:45 PM).
The Recorder of Deeds charges $81 for the first 4 pages plus $2 for each page beyond 4.
Lehigh County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile / CSC / ePN.
Recording Office Record
Lehigh County · Recorder of Deeds
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
E-recording
Recording fees
| Base fee (first 4 pages) | $81.25 |
| 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 September 8, 2026 · Source
Pennsylvania allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Lehigh 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 Lehigh 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.
FirmEaston, PA
Provides estate planning services to clients in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Doylestown and surrounding areas since 1985. Prepares wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, living wills, and powers of attorney.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate AdministrationWills Trusts
FirmEaston, PA
Easton firm serving Northampton County and the wider Lehigh Valley through the county Register of Wills. Practice is confined to estate administration and planning, elder law, long-term care and Medicaid planning to preserve assets against nursing home costs, and special needs planning. Founded 1853; initial consultations are free.
PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawSpecial Needs PlanningMedicaid PlanningProbate Administration
Solo PracticeAllentown, PA
Allentown solo practice on North 8th Street handling estate administration and probate through the Lehigh County Register of Wills and Orphans' Court. Prepares wills, revocable and testamentary trusts, powers of attorney, and special needs trusts, and prepares Pennsylvania inheritance and federal estate tax returns.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTax PlanningSpecial Needs Planningand 4 more
FirmBethlehem, PA
Serving the Lehigh Valley for over 50 years under the leadership of Joseph F. Leeson, III, Esq. Handles wills, trusts, and estate planning matters.
PracticesEstate PlanningAsset ProtectionLong Term Care PlanningWills Trusts
FirmAllentown, PA
Downtown Allentown firm on Hamilton Street handling estate matters before the Lehigh County Register of Wills and Orphans' Court. Prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives, and guides executors through probate and estate administration; a Lehighton office extends into Carbon County.
PracticesEstate PlanningPowers Of AttorneyProbate AdministrationWills Trusts
FirmNorthampton, PA
Serving the Lehigh Valley for over 30 years, practicing primarily in Northampton, Lehigh, and Carbon Counties. Offices in Allentown, Bethlehem, and Palmerton.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate AdministrationWills Trusts
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.
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