Scranton Probate Records: Wills, Estates, and Orphans' Court
Scranton probate court records are filed and maintained at the Lackawanna County Government Center. Scranton is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest city in northeastern Pennsylvania, with approximately 77,000 residents. All probate matters for Scranton decedents are handled by the Lackawanna County Register of Wills. The Register also serves as the Clerk of Orphans' Court. This dual role means the same office handles both routine estate filings and court-supervised proceedings. Scranton residents opening an estate, searching for a will, or dealing with guardianship matters work with the Register's office on Wyoming Avenue.
Scranton Quick Facts
Lackawanna County Register of Wills for Scranton
The Lackawanna County Register of Wills is located at the Lackawanna County Government Center, 123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 521, Scranton, PA 18503. The office phone number is (570) 963-6702. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Because Scranton is the county seat of Lackawanna County, the Register of Wills office is located directly within the city. Scranton residents do not need to travel to another municipality to file probate records or open an estate.
The Register of Wills handles all probate court records for Scranton and the surrounding Lackawanna County municipalities. When a Scranton resident dies, the named executor or an interested family member brings the original will and a certified death certificate to the Register. The Register reviews the document to determine if it qualifies as a valid will under Pennsylvania law. If it does, the will is admitted to probate and the executor receives letters testamentary. These letters are the legal authority allowing the executor to manage and close the estate.
The Lackawanna County Register of Wills information page is available at lackawannacounty.org. This page provides current contact details, office hours, and general information about the probate process in Scranton and Lackawanna County.
The Register of Wills in Lackawanna County also has authority that goes beyond routine record-keeping. The Register can hold hearings and take testimony when a dispute arises over whether a document is a valid will. This judicial function sets the Register apart from purely administrative offices. The Register determines the initial question of validity before any matter proceeds to the Orphans' Court judge.
Register of Wills as Clerk of Orphans' Court in Scranton
In Lackawanna County, the Register of Wills serves the dual role of Clerk of Orphans' Court. This means the same office that accepts estate filings also manages the docket for Orphans' Court proceedings. Scranton residents who need court involvement in an estate, guardianship, or trust matter file their petitions through this combined office.
The Orphans' Court clerk information is available at lackawannacounty.org. This page describes the types of matters that come before the court and provides procedural information for Scranton residents navigating the court system. The Orphans' Court in Lackawanna County handles estate disputes, trust accountings, guardianship petitions, and adoption proceedings.
Guardianship cases for incapacitated Scranton adults or minors require a court petition, a hearing, and a judicial order. The Register's office coordinates the scheduling and recordkeeping for these cases. Guardianship forms and adoption forms are available at the office for Scranton residents who need them. Once a court order is issued, it becomes part of the permanent Orphans' Court record maintained in Scranton.
Note: The Register of Wills serves as a judicial officer in Lackawanna County and can conduct hearings on the validity of wills presented for probate in Scranton.
Searching Scranton Probate Court Records Online
Lackawanna County provides an online records search for probate court records. To use the system, pop-up blockers must be disabled in your browser. The online search allows users to look up existing estate records by decedent name. Results typically show case numbers, filing dates, and the names of personal representatives. This tool helps Scranton residents and genealogical researchers find estate files without visiting the Wyoming Avenue office in person.
For records not found online, or for older historical estate files, contacting the Register's office directly at (570) 963-6702 is the best approach. Staff can assist with manual searches for Scranton estate records. Copy fees apply for printed documents. Certified copies of probate records cost more than plain copies.
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us provides case-level information for Orphans' Court matters in Lackawanna County. If a Scranton estate or guardianship case was contested and went before a judge, the case record may be searchable through the UJS portal. Routine administrative filings at the Register level are not in the UJS system but are accessible through Lackawanna County's own portal.
The image below shows the Scranton city government website, which provides municipal services information for Scranton residents.
The City of Scranton at scrantonpa.gov handles local government services, separate from the probate court records maintained by the Lackawanna County Register of Wills.
What Scranton Probate Court Records Include
Scranton probate court records contain several distinct document types. Each category provides different information about the decedent, the estate, and how assets were distributed. These records are public and can be accessed by anyone who contacts the Lackawanna County Register of Wills.
The original will is the primary document in most Scranton estates. It states the testator's full legal name, describes beneficiaries and the assets they receive, and names the executor. Once admitted to probate, the will becomes a permanent part of the public record. The Register of Wills retains the original and can provide certified copies upon request.
Letters testamentary authorize the executor to act on behalf of the estate. Short certificates confirm that authority for individual transactions. Banks and financial institutions holding Scranton decedent assets require a short certificate before releasing funds. Inventories document all estate assets, and accountings track all financial activity during administration. Both become part of the Scranton probate court record.
The Register of Wills also acts as an agent for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue with respect to inheritance tax. The Register collects inheritance tax payments and transmits them to the state. For Scranton estates, the applicable inheritance tax rate depends on the relationship between the decedent and each beneficiary. Current inheritance tax information is published by the PA Department of Revenue at revenue.pa.gov.
The image below illustrates the Pennsylvania Registers of Wills Association, which supports the work of county registers including Lackawanna County.
The Pennsylvania Registers of Wills Association represents all 67 county registers and provides statewide guidance on probate practices, including those used in Scranton.
Note: Inheritance tax filings are processed through the Register of Wills office in Scranton and remitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
Pennsylvania Probate Law and Scranton Estates
Pennsylvania's Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code governs how estates are administered in Scranton. The code sets requirements for valid wills, intestate succession, and the duties of personal representatives. A valid will in Pennsylvania must be in writing and signed by the testator. Two witnesses must sign. The Register of Wills in Scranton applies these standards when deciding whether to admit a document to probate.
If a Scranton resident dies without a will, the estate is distributed under Pennsylvania's intestate succession law. The Register accepts petitions for letters of administration from qualified individuals. The law establishes a priority order: surviving spouses have the first right to administer, followed by adult children and other relatives. The administrator has the same legal authority as an executor but operates under an intestate rather than a testate estate.
Pennsylvania's Orphans' Court rules govern contested estate matters. When a dispute arises over the validity of a Scranton will, the interested parties may file objections with the Register. If the dispute cannot be resolved at the Register level, it proceeds to the Orphans' Court judge. The procedural rules for these hearings are published in the Pennsylvania Code at pacodeandbulletin.gov.
Scranton residents with questions about the probate process can consult the PA probate help resource at pa-probatehelp.com. This site answers common questions about Pennsylvania wills and the probate process, including what happens when someone contests a will or when a will cannot be located.
Scranton County Probate Records
Scranton probate court records are part of the Lackawanna County estate system. The Lackawanna County Register of Wills holds all wills, letters, estate inventories, accountings, and Orphans' Court records for Scranton and all of Lackawanna County. Visit the county page for full office details, forms, and fee information.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby cities file probate court records at the Register of Wills in their respective county.