Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans' Court Division

HOW TO PERFORM AN ESTATE SEARCH TO SEE IF AN ESTATE WAS OPENED OR A WILL WAS PROBATED?

Due to restrictions relating to the COVID-19 emergency, the office is not currently accepting walk-ins to see if an estate was opened or a will was probated. We are also not accepting those requests over the phone. Instead, we process those requests online.

Starting July 1, 2020 our office began phasing out requests for copies sent in by mail. Because the processing and payment are now completed online, these services may continue on a remote basis if necessary, and will therefore help us better serve you. E-copies are filled via email, and certified and exemplified copies (as well as short certificates) are filled via U.S. mail. Please allow 10-14 days for processing all requests.

Starting August 2020 our office begins offering free searches to the public available online. The search will permit users to determine whether an estate and/or will was submitted to our office for the purpose of probate. Members of the public can take comfort in knowing that their personal information will not be widely published online. Instead, users will be able to confirm whether a document exists for a given estate, and from there, have the option of ordering the document at https://delcopa.gov/row/ecopies.html.


1. E-Copy Estate Name Search $25.00 (per name) (filled by email)

This request provides information on whether an estate has been opened on a given name.
BUY E-COPY ESTATE NAME SEARCH $25.00 (VIA EMAIL)

2. CERTIFIED COPIES OF PROBATE DOCUMENTS ($-varies) (filled by U.S. mail)

Individuals may also request certified and/or exemplified copies of any of the above documents. Certified copies cost $25.00 plus $1.00 per page. Accordingly, the price of various documents for different estates varies. You should contact our office in advance for assistance in determining of pages in (and therefore, the price of) the document you seek. We will provide a quote and you may use the link below to input the quoted price and process for payment. Please specify in the “Comments” section which probate document you seek a certified copy of so we may expedite processing.
BUY CERTIFIED COPY PROBATE (VIA U.S. MAIL)

3. EXEMPLIFIED COPIES OF PROBATE DOCUMENTS ($-varies) (filled by U.S. mail)

Individuals may also request exemplified copies of any of the above documents. Exemplified copies cost $50.00 plus $1.00 per page. Accordingly, the price of various documents for different estates varies. You should contact our office in advance for assistance in determining of pages in (and therefore, the price of) the document you seek. We will provide a quote and you may use the link below to input the quoted price and process for payment. Please specify in the “Comments” section which probate document you seek a certified copy of so we may expedite processing.
BUY EXEMPLIFIED COPY PROBATE (VIA U.S. MAIL)


Our records extend from the present date back to the early 1900s. If you are a current member of the US Military or a Veteran you are entitled to one free plain copy of an estate file. Please provide a copy of your Veterans ID Card, DD214 Form or Driver’s License with Veterans Designation.

If you are requesting an estate search through the mail, please send in a letter indicating the name of the decedent, approximate date of death or the time frame you would like to be searched, along with a check for $25.00 payable to Register of Wills and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The clerks will perform the search and mail the information back to you. Our mailing address is The Register of Wills Department, 201 W. Front St. Media, Pa 19063.



Contact Us

  •   201 West Front Street,
         Media, PA 19063
  •   8:30AM - 4:30PM
           Monday - Friday
  •   610-891-4000
  • webmaster@co.delaware.pa.us

About Delaware County

Delaware County, presently consisting of over 184 square miles divided into forty-nine municipalities is the oldest settled section of Pennsylvania.


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