Bensalem Probate Court Records: Wills, Estates, and Orphans' Court
Bensalem probate court records are held by the Bucks County Register of Wills in Doylestown. Bensalem Township is the most populous municipality in Bucks County, with approximately 62,000 residents. All probate matters for Bensalem decedents are handled by the Bucks County Register of Wills, led by Linda Bobrin, Esq. The office processes wills, issues letters testamentary, maintains estate inventories and accountings, and coordinates Orphans' Court matters. Bensalem residents benefit from multiple ways to access probate court records, including in-person visits, electronic filing, and Zoom appointments.
Bensalem Quick Facts
Bucks County Register of Wills for Bensalem
The Bucks County Register of Wills main office is located at the Bucks County Administrative Building, 55 East Court Street, 6th Floor, Doylestown, PA 18901. The office phone number is 215-348-6265. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Walk-in visitors should arrive by 3:30 PM to be served the same day. Register Linda Bobrin, Esq. oversees all estate filings for Bensalem and every other municipality in Bucks County.
Bensalem residents have a convenient option not available to all Bucks County municipalities. Bucks County operates a satellite office in Levittown that provides limited Register of Wills services. Bensalem is geographically close to the Levittown satellite office. That office operates on Thursdays by appointment. Services offered at the satellite include estate openings and related filings, but not inheritance tax payments, which must be handled at the main Doylestown office. Probate information for Bensalem estates is available at buckscounty.gov/678/Probate-Estates-Administration.
The Register of Wills processes all probate court records for Bensalem. When a Bensalem decedent dies with a will, the named executor brings the original will and a certified death certificate to the Register. The Register reviews and admits the will to probate. Letters testamentary are then issued. These letters authorize the executor to manage the Bensalem estate. If no will exists, an administrator is appointed under the intestate succession rules of Pennsylvania law.
Note: Inheritance tax payments for Bensalem estates must be made at the main Doylestown office and cannot be processed at the Levittown satellite location.
E-Filing Bensalem Probate Court Records
Bucks County provides an electronic filing system for probate matters at propublic.buckscountyonline.org. Bensalem executors and their attorneys can use this portal to submit required documents and open estates without an initial in-person visit. The e-filing option streamlines the process for Bensalem families managing an estate remotely or with limited availability for daytime office visits.
When using the Bucks County e-filing system for a Bensalem estate, several documents must be uploaded as PDFs. These include the Petition for Grant of Letters, the Estate Information Sheet (REV-346 from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue), the certified death certificate, and any renunciations from individuals declining to serve as personal representative. The system automatically calculates the applicable filing fee based on the stated estate value. This eliminates manual fee calculations for Bensalem estate filers.
As with other Pennsylvania counties, the original will cannot be submitted electronically. Even when all other documents are e-filed, the original signed will must be submitted separately. Bensalem executors can bring the original will to either the Doylestown main office or the Levittown satellite on Thursdays. Alternatively, the original can be mailed to the Doylestown office with trackable shipping. The e-filing record at buckscounty.gov/667/E-Filing-Online-Records-Searches describes the process in detail.
After submitting electronically, the filer receives a confirmation. Register of Wills staff review the submission and contact the filer to schedule an appointment if needed. Appointments can be conducted in person at the Doylestown office, at the Levittown satellite on Thursdays, or via Zoom. The Zoom option is particularly useful for Bensalem residents who prefer a virtual process.
What Bensalem Probate Court Records Contain
Probate court records for Bensalem estates include several important document types. Each type serves a different purpose in the estate administration process.
Wills are the foundational document. They state the testator's full legal name, list beneficiaries by name, describe specific bequests of property or money, name the executor, and often include a residuary clause distributing the remainder of the estate. Once admitted to probate by the Bucks County Register of Wills, the will becomes a permanent public record. Certified copies are available for a fee from the Doylestown office. The record contents available to the public are described at buckscounty.gov/681/Record-Contents.
Letters testamentary name the personal representative and state when authority was granted. Financial institutions and government agencies require this documentation before dealing with a Bensalem estate. A short certificate is a condensed version of the letters that serves as proof of authority for individual transactions. Each financial institution typically requires its own short certificate. Having multiple short certificates ready saves time during estate administration.
Estate inventories list all assets owned by the Bensalem decedent at death. The inventory includes real estate with specific addresses, bank accounts with institutions and approximate balances, investment and brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, vehicles, and personal property of significant value. Estate accountings document all money received by the estate and all expenses paid out, including debts, taxes, administrative fees, and distributions to beneficiaries. Both the inventory and accounting are filed with the Register and become part of the permanent probate court record for the Bensalem estate.
The image below is from the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, which provides the legal framework governing Bensalem probate proceedings.
Pennsylvania probate law is codified in the state statutes available at legis.state.pa.us, governing all Bensalem estate proceedings in Bucks County.
Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax for Bensalem Estates
All Bensalem estates are subject to Pennsylvania's inheritance tax. The tax applies to assets transferred from the decedent to beneficiaries. The rate depends on the family relationship. Transfers to surviving spouses are taxed at zero percent. Lineal descendants, including children and grandchildren, pay at a lower rate. Siblings pay a higher rate. Transfers to unrelated individuals carry the highest rate.
The Bucks County Register of Wills collects inheritance tax payments on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. The tax is due within nine months of the decedent's death. Paying within three months earns a five percent discount. For Bensalem estates, the tax payment must be made at the main Doylestown office. The inheritance tax rules are published at revenue.pa.gov.
The personal representative of a Bensalem estate is responsible for filing the inheritance tax return and paying the tax. The return must account for all taxable assets. Real estate located in Bucks County, including Bensalem properties, is valued at fair market value at the date of death. Financial accounts are valued at their balance on that date. The personal representative may engage an appraiser to determine fair market value for real estate and certain personal property items.
Note: Inheritance tax paid within three months of death qualifies for a five percent discount on the total amount owed to Pennsylvania.
Bensalem Orphans' Court and Guardianship Records
The Bucks County Orphans' Court handles matters beyond routine estate administration for Bensalem residents. When an estate dispute cannot be resolved at the Register level, the case moves to the Orphans' Court judge. The court also handles guardianship petitions, trust accountings, and adoption proceedings.
Bensalem residents who need to establish guardianship over an incapacitated adult or minor must file a petition with the Orphans' Court through the Register of Wills office in Doylestown. The court schedules a hearing, takes evidence, and issues an order. The appointed guardian has legal authority to manage the personal and financial affairs of the protected person. Guardianship records become part of the permanent court file maintained by the Register.
The Bucks County Orphans' Court also offers a mediation program as an alternative to formal litigation. The mediation program provides a faster and less costly way to resolve estate and guardianship disputes. Bensalem families facing contested estate matters may find mediation a practical first step before committing to full litigation in the Orphans' Court. The program reflects Bucks County's approach to making probate court more accessible and efficient for residents throughout the county, including Bensalem.
The Pennsylvania State Archives at phmc.pa.gov holds older probate records from Bucks County. Historical estate files from Bensalem and other Bucks County municipalities may be available there for genealogical research. The earliest Bucks County Orphans' Court records date to the 1600s, reflecting the county's long history of probate record-keeping.
Bensalem County Probate Records
Bensalem probate court records are part of the Bucks County estate system administered by the Register of Wills in Doylestown. All wills, letters, estate inventories, accountings, and Orphans' Court records for Bensalem are held at that office. Visit the Bucks County probate records page for complete office details, fee schedules, and filing resources.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Probate court records for residents of nearby communities are filed at the Register of Wills office in each respective county.