Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans' Court

Register of Wills

The Register of Wills is responsible for probating wills and granting letter of administration in cases where persons die without leaving a will. The register has jurisdiction over and maintains records of wills, inventory of estates, and other miscellaneous documents. The Register is the Commonwealth’s agent for the collection of the state inheritance tax.

Clerk of Orphans’ Court

New Orphans’ Court Rules are effective September 1, 2016. The form and be found at the AOPC Forms Website.

The Clerk of Orphans’ Court is responsible for performing the administrative record keeping duties of that court. The Clerk of Orphans’ Court issues marriage licenses and keeps required marriage records. The clerk of Orphans’ Court will process and maintain all guardianship papers for minors and incapacitated persons. All papers pertaining to adoptions are filed in this office.

Birth & Death Records

County birth and death records from 1893 through 1905 are available at the Register of Wills office. From 1906 to the present, birth and death records are available from the Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records in New Castle, PA. For more information, you can visit their website:

• Birth Records
  • Application for Birth Certificate (PDF)
• Death Records
  • Application for Death Certificate (PDF)

Forms

• Change in Safe Deposit Box Inventories and Notice (PDF)
• Inheritance Tax Reference Sheet (PDF)
• Filing a Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Return (PDF)
• Application for Certified Copy of Marriage Record (PDF)
• Marriage License Disclaimer of Liability (PDF)
• Waiver of Fiduciary Bond (PDF)
• Information Request Form (PDF)