Register of Wills


FKovaleski
Frances Roland Kovaleski,
Register of Wills
The Primary function of the Register of Wills is to probate or legally establish the validity of a decedent’s will. In cases where a will does not exist, the Register of Wills will appoint a Personal Representative based on Pennsylvania Intestacy Laws. The Register of Wills is also an agent for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, collecting in excess of $14 million dollars of Inheritance Tax revenue annually.

Another chief responsibility of the Register of Wills office is the management, storage and preservation of filings dating as far back as 1878, making this office an excellent resource for genealogical research.

Probates are by Appointment Only!  

Please note that the Orphans’ Court has a no refund policy.



Records Search for Register of Wills, Orphans’ Court and Marriage Records

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RESOURCES & LINKS


This website is intended to benefit the public and those who frequent the office of the Register of Wills. If you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

Administrative Contacts
Frances M. Kovaleski
Register of Wills
Phone: 570-963-6702
Fax: 570-963-6377
E-mailContact Me
Tracy Diskin Doherty, Esq
Deputy Register of Wills
Phone: 570-963-6702
Fax: 570-963-6377
E-mailContact Me


Location

Register of Wills / Clerk of Orphans Court
Lackawanna County Government Center
123 Wyoming Avenue, 5th Floor
Scranton, PA 18503
Doc app

Document Center

The Document Center provides easy access to public documents. Click on one of the categories below to see related documents or use the search function.

Categories always sorted by seq (sub-categories sorted within each category)
Documents sorted by SEQ in Descending Order within category

Forms31 documents

  • Affidavit of Death
    document seq -5.00
  • Affidavit of Domicile
    document seq -4.00
  • Application and Instructions for Employer Identification EIN Number Form SS-4
    document seq -3.00
  • Application for Birth Records
    document seq -2.00
  • Application for Death Records
    document seq -1.00
  • Application for Genealogy Search: Wills/Estates
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  • Caveat
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  • Caveat / Bond of Caveat
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  • Citation
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  • Estate Inventory
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  • Family Exemptions
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  • Fee Schedule
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  • Notice of Intention to Appeal from Register
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  • Out-of-State Commission Checklist
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  • PA O.C. Certification of Notice under Rule 10.5
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  • PA O.C. Rule 10.5 Notice of Estate Administration
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  • PA O.C. Rule 10.6 Status Report
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  • PA 20 CS Payments to Family/Funeral Directors/Settlement of Small Estates Not Exceeding $50,000
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  • Probate Packet
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  • Estate Information Sheet
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  • Petition for Probate, Grant of Letters
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  • Oath of Personal Representative
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  • Oath of Subscribing Witness
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  • Oath of Non-Subscribing Witness
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  • Unavailable Witness Affidavit
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  • Renunciation
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  • Pro-Se Affidavit
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  • Oath of Witness to Will Executed by MARK
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  • Waiver of Fiduciary Bond
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  • FEMA POLICY: COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
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  • Tracing Family History in Lackawanna County
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