Lehigh County Probate Court Records

Lehigh County probate court records are maintained by the Register of Wills, part of the Clerk of Judicial Records department in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The office handles estate administration, will probate, and inheritance tax collection for this densely populated Lehigh Valley county. Records extend back to the colonial era, reflecting Lehigh County's long settlement history. Wills, letters testamentary, estate inventories, and Orphans' Court dockets are all part of the record collection at Room 122 of the Lehigh County Courthouse. An online Web Viewer provides remote access to many case records. Knowing how to search both in person and online makes researching Lehigh County estates efficient and productive.

Lehigh County Probate Records and Register of Wills Office

The Lehigh County Register of Wills is located at Room 122, 455 West Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101-1614. This address is within the historic Lehigh County Courthouse in downtown Allentown. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The fax number is 610-871-2895. Chief Deputy Diana L. Dergham and Assistant Chief Deputy Shannan Ianovale lead the office's day-to-day operations.

The primary duties of the Lehigh County Register of Wills are probating estates and acting as agent for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in collecting inheritance taxes. These two functions sit at the center of estate administration in the county. When a Lehigh County resident dies, their will is submitted to this office for probate. The Register examines the document, confirms it was properly executed, and then issues letters testamentary to the named executor. If no will exists, letters of administration are granted to a qualified petitioner.

Lehigh County is one of the more populous counties in eastern Pennsylvania, and the Register of Wills office handles a significant volume of estate matters each year. The office serves as part of the broader Clerk of Judicial Records department, which handles various court record functions across multiple divisions within the county court system.

Lehigh County Probate Court Records Online Search

Lehigh County offers online access to probate and estate records through its Web Viewer portal. This tool allows users to search estate case information remotely without visiting the Allentown courthouse in person. The Web Viewer is accessible through the Clerk of Judicial Records section of the county website at the link noted on the Register of Wills page.

The image below is from the Lehigh County Register of Wills page, which serves as the primary probate authority for estates in this Lehigh Valley county.

This page outlines the Register of Wills' duties, contact information, and links to the Web Viewer for online probate record searches in Lehigh County.

For in-person searches, visit Room 122 at the West Hamilton Street courthouse during business hours. Bring the full legal name of the decedent and the approximate year of death. Staff can locate estate files by name or case number. Certified copies cost $0.50 per page by mail or $0.25 per page in person. Short certificates are $10.00 each.

Note: The Web Viewer for online case searches in Lehigh County is a powerful research tool, but not all older historical records may be digitized; in-person visits remain the best option for estates opened before the digital record era.

Lehigh County Probate Fees and Filing Costs

Lehigh County probate fees were updated effective January 1, 2023. The Judicial Computer Project fee is $40.25. An Automation Fee of $5.00 and an E-Filing Fee of $5.00 also apply to new filings. Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration carry a graduated scale based on estate value: estates valued from $0 to $10,000 pay $50.00, and fees increase through the scale up to $1,350 for estates between $1 million and $2 million. Each additional $1 million or fraction thereof adds $400.00 to the letters fee.

The image below comes from the Pennsylvania Bulletin fee schedule filing for Lehigh County, which documents the official probate filing fees submitted to the Commonwealth for public notice.

This Pennsylvania Bulletin entry provides the official Lehigh County fee schedule for probate filings, letters testamentary, short certificates, and certified copies as approved and published for public notice.

Short certificates are $10.00 each. Personal representatives typically need multiple copies since each institution holding estate assets will retain one. Planning how many certificates to request at the time of probate avoids extra trips to the Allentown courthouse. Knowing the full list of financial institutions and agencies that will require certificates before your probate appointment is useful preparation.

Lehigh County Orphans' Court and Estate Administration

Orphans' Court in Lehigh County handles matters that require judicial oversight beyond routine estate administration. Contested will proceedings, formal estate accountings, guardianship appointments for minors and incapacitated adults, and adoption matters all come before this court. The Register of Wills, as part of the Clerk of Judicial Records office, maintains the docket and manages all Orphans' Court filings at Room 122 on West Hamilton Street.

Guardianship cases in Lehigh County require a petitioner to demonstrate that an individual cannot manage their own affairs and that a guardian is necessary. The court reviews evidence, often including expert reports, and appoints a guardian with defined authority. Guardians must file periodic reports and inventories with the court, which become part of the public record. Researchers seeking historical guardianship files should contact the office to confirm availability and access procedures for specific time periods.

The Lehigh County Orphans' Court also reviews estate accountings. When a personal representative files a formal account showing how estate assets were collected, debts paid, and distributions made, the account is subject to review and approval. Objections can be filed by interested parties. Once approved, the account is confirmed and the personal representative is discharged from further duty. These accounting records are part of the permanent estate file.

Lehigh County Inheritance Tax and Estate Resources

The Lehigh County Register of Wills serves as the Commonwealth's local agent for inheritance tax collection. Personal representatives file the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Return (REV-1500) through this office. Tax payments are accepted and forwarded to the Department of Revenue. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue inheritance tax page provides current forms, rate information, and filing instructions for all Pennsylvania estates.

The Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes provide the legal framework governing estate administration, will requirements, and Orphans' Court procedures across the state. The Pennsylvania Code, Title 231 sets out specific Orphans' Court procedural rules that apply in Lehigh County. The Registers of Wills Association of Pennsylvania supports county offices statewide and provides a directory of register functions across all 67 counties.

Nearby Counties

Lehigh County is in the heart of the Lehigh Valley and borders several eastern Pennsylvania counties with their own probate offices.

View All 67 Counties