Wills/Orphans Court Fees
Effective immediately, Act 45 of 2025 increased the JCP/ATJ/CJEA/OAG fee by $1.00 bringing the total fee from $40.25 to $41.25. This fee is included in fees for filings that commence civil cases. These filings include, but are not limited to complaints, writs of summons and appeals to the Court of Common Pleas. The Department of Court Records will collect the new fee beginning December 1, 2025.
There will be a $35.00 charge for NSF checks. No personal checks will be accepted.
No refunds for overpayments of $10.00 or less, refunds will be made for all amounts over $10.00.
In cases not specifically provided for the Director of the Department of Court Records shall make the same charge as that imposed for services of a substantially similar nature.
Accounts
For filing, advertising, adjudication and recording accounts of trustees, guardians of minors and guardians of incompetents, graduated according to the total principal and income contained therein.
| Total Principal and Income |
Fee |
| Less than $5,000 |
$50.00 |
| $5,001 to $10,000 |
$70.00 |
| $10,001 to $20,000 |
$100.00 |
| $20,001 to $30,000 |
$110.00 |
| $30,001 to $40,000 |
$120.00 |
| $40,001 to $50,000 |
$150.00 |
| $50,001 to $100,000 |
$170.00 |
| $100,001 to $200,000 |
$250.00 |
| $200,001 to $500,000 |
$500.00 |
| $500,001 to $1,000,000 |
$650.00 |
| Each additional $1,000,000 or fraction thereof |
$325.00 |
Appeals
An additional $90.25 fee, charged by the Pennsylvania Appellate Courts, is collected by the Department of Court Records at the time of filing the Appeal.
| Appeal |
Fee |
| Petition for Citation Sur Appeal |
$65.00 |
| Notice Appeal Superior Court |
$80.00 |
Miscellaneous Fees
| Type |
Fee |
| Affidavit or Oath |
$10.00 |
| Certification |
$20.00 |
| List of Liens |
$10.00 |
| Notary Public signature certification |
$15.00 |
| PA Inheritance Tax Return (original) |
$10.00 |
| Subpoena |
$10.00 |
| For the first $1,000.00 - the handling of money paid into court |
3¢ per dollar |
| For money paid into court above $1,000.00 |
1¢ per dollar |
| File Retrieval from non-County owned facility, payable at time of order |
Current Rate |
New Case Filings
| Case Filing |
Fee |
| Adoption - Petition (Orphans’ Court) |
$280.25 |
| Adoption - Petition (Foreign) |
$180.25 |
| Filing and recording |
$15.00 |
| Cemetery Trust Recording |
$172.25 |
| Guardianship Minors |
$130.25 |
| Guardianship Incompetents |
$160.25 |
| Power of Attorney |
$160.25 |
| Trust |
$160.25 |
| Petition for Small Estate |
$130.25 |
Secondary Filings
| Filing |
Fee |
| Assignment |
$20.00 |
| Bond |
$10.00 |
| Claims (If there is case number) - Filing |
$20.00 |
| Claims (If there is case number) - Satisfaction or withdrawal |
$10.00 |
| Claims (If no case number) - Filing |
$115.25 |
| Disclaimers (If there is case number) |
$20.00 |
| Disclaimers (If no case number) |
$115.25 |
| Election to Take under or Against Will - Filing |
$20.00 |
| Election to Take under or Against Will - Withdrawal |
$10.00 |
| Election to have correctness of Inheritance Tax Determined at Audit |
$20.00 |
| Exceptions or Objections |
$20.00 |
| Family Settlement Agreement |
$75.00 |
| Financial Statement of Fiduciaries |
$20.00 |
| First Filing by party other than Party who obtained case number (including Answer, Entry of Appearance, Preliminary Objections) |
$35.00 |
| Petitions |
$35.00 |
| Petition or Motion for Continuance |
$20.00 |
| Praecipe for Judgment |
$35.00 |
| Power of Attorney Revocation/ Discontinuance |
$10.00 |
| Receipt and Release |
$5.00 |
| Renunciation of Power of Appointment |
$10.00 |