How Much Does a Will Cost in Pennsylvania?

Probate on a $500,000 estate in Pennsylvania costs about $34,977 — roughly 7% of estate value — including attorney fees, executor fees, court filing fees, and publication costs.20 Pa.C.S. § 3101 (payments without administration: $10K wages, $20K deposits, $10K patient care, $11K life insurance), § 3102 (small estate petition — gross personal property $50K; raised from $25K by Act 35 of 2013, no CPI indexing), § 3121 (family exemption $3,500), § 3162 (advertisement once/week for 3 successive weeks in newspaper of general circulation + designated legal periodical), § 3171/§ 3174 (bond + exemptions), § 3301 (inventory deadline), § 3531 (post-administration small-estate settlement on petition $50K), § 3532 (creditor claims 1 yr from first complete advertisement), § 3537 (PR compensation "reasonable and just"; attorney fees by court review of reasonableness, In re LaRocca's Trust Estate, 431 Pa. 542 (1968)), §§ 901-908 (Register of Wills); 72 P.S. § 9116 (inheritance tax rates 0%/4.5%/12%/15%), 72 P.S. § 9136 (return due within 9 months), 72 P.S. § 9142 (5% discount if paid within 3 months), 72 P.S. § 9143 (delinquent 9 months after death); county Register of Wills fee schedules on pacourts.us and individual county Register of Wills sites — verified via legis.state.pa.us / palegis.us / pa.gov/agencies/revenue on 2026-06-11Verified Jul 15, 2026 These costs are paid by the estate before assets transfer to beneficiaries, reducing the total inheritance. Estimate the full cost with the Pennsylvania probate calculator.

A will does not avoid probate in Pennsylvania — probate is the court-supervised process that validates the will, pays debts, and distributes assets. Estates under $50,000 may qualify for a simplified small-estate procedure instead of full probate. A revocable living trust transfers assets to beneficiaries without probate at any estate size.

Online will services cost $30-$300 upfront compared to $1,014-$2,028 for an attorney in Pennsylvania. Either way, the will goes through the same probate process. Total cost depends on subscription fees, amendment charges, and the eventual probate expenses heirs will pay.

Life events like marriage, divorce, or having a child require updating your will. Some online providers require purchasing a new document. Attorney amendments in Pennsylvania cost $383 to $766 for minor changes and $1,532 to $3,064 for major restructuring.

Pennsylvania has specific requirements for executing a valid will, including witness and notary rules. A will that does not meet these requirements may not be accepted during probate. See the full requirements with the Pennsylvania signing requirements tool.