Franklin County Probate Court Records in Chambersburg
Franklin County probate court records are maintained by two separate offices in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The Register of Wills holds wills, letters testamentary, letters of administration, and estate inventories. The Clerk of Orphans' Court handles Orphans' Court dockets, contested matters, guardianships, and adoptions. Both offices have records going back to 1785 when Franklin County began keeping documents, making this one of the older probate record collections in Pennsylvania. Researchers working on family history or estate matters will find a deep archive in Chambersburg, with some records dating to 1752 for land and pre-organization filings.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Probate Records Office Details
Franklin County is a 4th Class County with two offices handling probate and Orphans' Court matters. The Register of Wills is Joy Heinbaugh. The Register of Wills office is located at 272 N. Second Street, Suite 205, Chambersburg, PA 17201. Phone: 717-261-3872. This office handles all wills, estate openings, letters, and inheritance tax filings for Franklin County residents.
The Clerk of Orphans' Court is Todd Rock. That office is located at 14 N. Main St., Chambersburg, PA 17201. Phone: 717-261-3805. The Clerk handles Orphans' Court dockets, contested estate proceedings, guardianships, adoptions, and all matters that come before the Orphans' Court judge. The main courthouse is located at 157 Lincoln Way E, Chambersburg, PA 17201.
Because the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court offices are at different addresses in Chambersburg, researchers and family members need to know which office handles the records they need. Wills and estate letters go to the Register. Contested matters and court dockets go to the Clerk. A call to either office can confirm where specific documents are held.
Franklin County Probate Court Records Available for Search
Franklin County's probate records begin in 1785. Orphans' Court Dockets from 1785 to 1903 are available along with a General Index for that period. Marriage records in this office go back to 1885. The office also holds courthouse records including probates, wills, and land records from 1752 to 1838, predating the county's formal organization and reflecting earlier colonial-era records that were transferred and preserved.
The Registers of Wills and Clerks of Orphans' Court Association of Pennsylvania directory lists current contact details for both Franklin County offices. If hours or addresses have changed, the RWOCAP directory is updated to reflect those changes. Researchers who want to confirm current details before visiting Chambersburg should check the directory first.
Probate records from 1785 forward include original wills, codicils, letters testamentary, letters of administration, estate inventories, final accountings, and Orphans' Court orders. The depth and continuity of Franklin County's record set make it especially valuable for genealogical research. Families that lived in the Chambersburg area in the 1800s and early 1900s are well documented in these files.
The image below is from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission research page, which includes access to digitized Pennsylvania records including some older probate documents.
The PHMC online research portal supplements local Franklin County probate records with digitized historical documents from across Pennsylvania.
Note: Pre-1785 records for families in what is now Franklin County may be found in Cumberland County's archives, since Franklin County was carved from Cumberland County when it was formed.
How Franklin County Probate Court Records Are Filed
Probate in Franklin County begins when the executor or administrator presents the original will, the certified death certificate, and the estate information sheet to the Register of Wills at 272 N. Second Street, Suite 205. The Register reviews the will for proper execution under Pennsylvania law and, once approved, issues the letters that authorize the representative to act for the estate.
If the decedent died without a will, the estate is called an intestate estate. The Register issues Letters of Administration to the person with highest priority under Pennsylvania's intestate succession rules. That person then takes on the same duties as an executor: inventorying assets, paying debts, filing the inheritance tax return, and eventually distributing the estate to the heirs at law.
All Pennsylvania estates must address inheritance tax. The REV-1500 return is filed with the Franklin County Register of Wills. The Register acts as the agent for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue in collecting this tax. A 5% discount on the total tax is available if paid within three months of the date of death. Details on rates and exemptions appear on the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue website.
Franklin County Orphans' Court Proceedings
The Clerk of Orphans' Court at 14 N. Main St. maintains the dockets for all contested estate proceedings, guardianships, adoptions, and trust matters in Franklin County. Franklin County's Orphans' Court Dockets from 1785 to 1903 are available with a General Index, making early court proceedings traceable for historical and genealogical researchers.
Will contests and disputes over estate accountings go before the Orphans' Court judge. Parties challenging a will must present evidence and have the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses. The court weighs the evidence and rules on the will's validity. Appeals from that ruling can proceed to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
Guardianship petitions in Franklin County follow the same procedures as elsewhere in Pennsylvania. The petitioner must show the proposed ward cannot manage their own affairs and that the proposed guardian is qualified and willing to serve. Once appointed, guardians must file annual reports with the Orphans' Court. Standard Orphans' Court forms from the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts provide the starting point for many guardianship filings.
Pennsylvania Probate Law and Franklin County Records
Franklin County follows Pennsylvania's Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code, found in Title 20 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. This code sets the rules for will execution, estate administration, fiduciary duties, and distribution of assets. All 67 Pennsylvania counties apply the same statewide framework, so the rules that govern Franklin County probate proceedings are the same as those governing any other county in the state.
Residents who want plain-language guidance on Pennsylvania wills and estate administration can find helpful information at PA Probate Help. This resource explains the probate process in accessible terms and addresses common questions about wills, intestacy, and estate settlement. It is a useful reference before consulting with an attorney.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County borders several south-central Pennsylvania counties, and estates for residents near those boundaries may be filed in a neighboring Register of Wills office.