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Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans Court
LIMITED SERVICE ALERT - one Montgomery plaza is presently closed to the public
Marriage licenses
probate
For information regarding videoconferencing for Probate during COVID-19 Emergency, follow this link.
Inheritance Tax Filings
The Register of Wills reminds those who are filing Inheritance Tax forms or making payments with the Register that the office accepts, FOR INHERITANCE TAX MATTERS ONLY, a United States Postal Service postmark as the date of filing. Use of the United States Postal Service is encouraged.
ORPHANS’ COURT
E-filing will be undergoing maintenance and will be unavailable from Friday, January 15 at 4:15 PM through Monday January 19 at 8:30 AM.
All filers are encouraged to e-file any petitions https://webapp.montcopa.org/ROWEFiling.
Any questions should be sent to Orphans’ Court Clerk’s office by email to ROWSupport@montcopa.org
All e-filed petitions will be forwarded to the Judge for scheduling, and will be conducted via video, to the extent possible.
No filings over the counter: For any emergency Orphans’ Court petition that a party seeks to file and wishes to file over the counter you are directed to hand in the hard copy at the Prothonotary’s office in the Courthouse. Mailed filings are accepted.
Duties of the Register
Welcome to the Montgomery County Register of Wills / Orphans’ Court website. Our office probates wills and processes intestate estates (estates without wills). The office is also agent for the commonwealth in the collection of inheritance taxes.
Accounts by personal representatives of estates are filed with our office. Certificates necessary for the transfer of estate assets are also issued by our office.
As clerk of the Orphans’ Court, our office issues marriage licenses and has charge of the Orphans’ Court dockets. Petitions for adoptions are filed in our office. The register of wills also keeps the records of all persons born in Montgomery County between 1893 and 1915. Birth records of persons born after 1915 are kept on file with the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
About Our Site
On this site you will find documents and forms for many of our services, as well as the contact information for the staff, should you have any questions. Thank you for visiting the register of wills / Orphans’ Court website.
About the Register of Wills
The register of wills has jurisdiction over the probate of wills and the granting of letters of administration. The office is also agent for the state in the collection of inheritance taxes, averaging more than $80 million annually.
Accounts of administrators and executors are received by the register of wills. Certified copies of wills and short certificates for the transfer of certain securities are issued as required by law.
LOCAL RULES
- *Montgomery County Local Orphans' Court Rule 14.2*
- *Montgomery County Local Orphans' Court Rule 3.7A*
GUARDIAN INFORMATION RESOURCES
Contact Us
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D. Bruce Hanes, Esq.
Register of Wills
Clerk of the Orphans’ Court
Contact Us
Office Location/Overnight UPS or FedEx
One Montgomery Plaza
425 Swede Street, 4th Floor
Norristown, PA 19401
Get Directions
Mailing Address
Register of Wills
P.O. Box 311
Norristown, PA 19404-0311
Register of Wills
Ph: 610-278-3400
Questions: ROWSupport@montcopa.org
Orphans' Court
Ph: 610-278-3400
Questions: ROWSupport@montcopa.org
Marriage License
Ph: 610-278-3400
Questions: MLSupport@montcopa.org
Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.