What to Do After a Death in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
The first weeks after losing someone involve time-sensitive tasks. Here's what to prioritize and what can wait.
If you've been named executor of an estate in Philadelphia County, several tasks need attention right away. Before you contact the Orphans' Court about probate, focus on protecting assets and getting certified death certificates.
Certified death certificates are needed at nearly every step—the Orphans' Court, banks, insurance companies, and government agencies all require originals. Ordering extra copies through Philadelphia County vital records early saves time later.
1. Order Death Certificates
Calculate the number of death certificates you'll need for banks, courts, and insurers:
2. Estate Settlement Checklist
Track your progress through the probate process:
Once appointed as personal representative, Pennsylvania law requires filing an inventory of estate assets with the Orphans' Court within 270 days20 Pa.C.S. § 3301Verified Apr 23, 2026. The inventory includes identifying and valuing all property owned at the time of death—real estate, bank accounts, investments, vehicles, and personal belongings.
Pennsylvania requires publishing a notice to creditors in a local newspaper. Creditors then have 12 months20 Pa.C.S. § 3532Verified Apr 23, 2026 to file claims against the estate.
Start by securing the deceased's property—collect mail, lock up valuables, and document everything. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to report the death and stop benefit payments before overpayments create a debt the estate must repay.
Contact banks and credit card companies immediately to freeze accounts and prevent unauthorized transactions.
When you're ready to start the probate process, contact the Orphans' Court at 215-686-6250 to confirm what documents you'll need. You can file in person or by mail—families handling probate themselves don't need to use e-filing.
Life insurance proceeds pass directly to named beneficiaries—no probate required. File claims early, as these funds can help cover immediate estate expenses while the probate process is underway.
Straightforward estates can often be handled without an attorney. But disputes, will contests, or assets like business interests and multi-state real estate usually warrant professional help.
Attorney fees in Pennsylvania typically range from 3%20 Pa.C.S. § 3537 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; Johnson Estate guideline: 5% on first $100K, declining)Verified Apr 23, 2026 to 5%20 Pa.C.S. § 3537 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; Johnson Estate guideline: 5% on first $100K, declining)Verified Apr 23, 2026 of estate value, with many Philadelphia-area attorneys offering flat-rate arrangements for straightforward estates without disputes.
Professional help is especially worthwhile when the estate triggers Pennsylvania estate tax requirements, involves procedures the executor hasn't navigated before, or raises liability concerns.
Legal Sources
- 20 Pa.C.S. § 3301
- 20 Pa.C.S. § 3532
- 20 Pa.C.S. § 3537 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage; Johnson Estate guideline: 5% on first $100K, declining)
Data sourced from Pennsylvania statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before anything court-related, handle three things: get the doctor or coroner to sign the death certificate, secure the home and any valuables, and locate the will. Only then does probate planning make sense.
Plan on 8–12 certified copies. Each financial institution, title company, insurer, and the Philadelphia County probate court will ask for an original. Ordering too few is the most common delay families run into. Use the Pennsylvania death certificate calculator for a personalized count.
Pennsylvania does not set a strict filing deadline for opening probate, but delay has costs: the creditor claim period is 12 months, assets stay frozen until probate opens, and some banks refuse to act without letters. Most families file within 30–60 days.
Funeral homes typically report the death to Social Security. Bank and brokerage notifications are on the executor — accounts freeze on notification, so timing matters. The Pennsylvania estate settlement checklist walks through the order.
Yes. A revocable living trust keeps the estate out of Philadelphia County probate entirely — no filing, no hearings, no public record. Families who plan ahead settle in weeks instead of months. Create a revocable trust online before the next generation has to go through what you're handling now.
Orphans' Court
Philadelphia County
City Hall, Room 180
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone:
215-686-6250Fax:
215-686-6268
Email:
rowonline@phila.govHours:
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Paper Filing Available
E-Filing Optional
Notify Banks & Financial Institutions
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
