Luzerne County Probate Court Records
Luzerne County probate court records are held by the Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds office at the Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The office is responsible for probating wills, granting letters of administration, and collecting inheritance taxes on behalf of the Commonwealth. Records date back to the colonial era, reflecting Luzerne County's long settlement history in northeastern Pennsylvania. The county is one of the more populous in the state, meaning the Register handles a high volume of estate matters each year. Whether you are researching an older estate or opening a new one, this office is the essential starting point for all Luzerne County probate work.
Luzerne County Quick Facts
Luzerne County Probate Records and the Register of Wills
The Luzerne County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds is located at the Luzerne County Courthouse, 200 N River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. Phone contact is available at (570) 825-1641. Wilkes-Barre sits along the Susquehanna River in the Wyoming Valley and has served as the county seat since Luzerne County was formed in 1786. Probate records from the colonial and early national periods survive and are part of the long record series maintained at this courthouse.
The Register of Wills is responsible for three core probate functions in Luzerne County. First, the office probates wills submitted after a resident's death, confirming the document's validity and admitting it to the public record. Second, it grants letters of administration for estates where no will was left, appointing a personal representative to manage and settle the estate. Third, it serves as the Commonwealth's local agent for collecting inheritance taxes, accepting payments and forwarding them to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
Luzerne County is one of northeastern Pennsylvania's most populous counties. The anthracite coal region brought waves of immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries, many of whom settled here permanently. The Register of Wills holds estate records reflecting this immigrant heritage, including wills from diverse ethnic communities that settled in the Wyoming Valley and surrounding areas. These records can be especially valuable for genealogical research into northeastern Pennsylvania family histories.
Searching Luzerne County Probate Court Records
In-person visits to the Luzerne County Courthouse at 200 N River Street in Wilkes-Barre are the primary means of searching probate records. Bring the full legal name of the decedent and an approximate year of death before arriving. Staff at the Register of Wills can assist with locating estate files by name or case number. Certified copies and plain copies of documents are available for a fee.
The image below is from the Pennsylvania State Archives research portal, which holds supplemental records and microfilmed collections relevant to Luzerne County's colonial and early American probate history.
The State Archives provides microfilmed records and digital finding aids that complement the physical holdings at the Luzerne County Courthouse for research into older estate and probate matters.
The Luzerne County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds page provides current office information, contact details, and guidance on estate filings. Checking this page before visiting the courthouse ensures you have the most current information on hours and procedures. Online resources may also be available for more recent case searches depending on current system availability.
Note: Luzerne County combines the Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds in a single office; if you also need deed records during your courthouse visit, both record types can be addressed in the same location.
Luzerne County Orphans' Court and Estate Proceedings
Orphans' Court in Luzerne County handles the full range of probate-related judicial matters. Contested wills, formal estate accountings, guardianship appointments for minors and incapacitated adults, and adoption proceedings all come before this court. The clerk function is maintained within the Register of Wills office at the Wilkes-Barre courthouse. Docket records and case files for all Orphans' Court matters are stored and indexed there.
When a Luzerne County will is disputed, the Register has authority to conduct a formal hearing. Sworn testimony is taken, evidence is reviewed, and the Register renders a decision on the will's validity. Parties who disagree with this ruling may appeal to the Court of Common Pleas. The record of these hearings and decisions becomes part of the permanent Orphans' Court docket, available for public research after the proceedings close.
Guardianship cases arise in Luzerne County when a minor inherits property or when an adult becomes incapacitated. The court appoints a guardian, defines the scope of authority, and requires periodic reporting. These reports and inventories accumulate into a file that documents the court's ongoing oversight of the guardianship arrangement. Researchers seeking guardianship records from specific time periods should contact the office to confirm availability and access procedures.
Luzerne County Wills and Historical Estate Records
Luzerne County wills from the colonial era through the 20th century represent a wide range of social and economic backgrounds. Early wills from the 18th and early 19th centuries often describe tracts of land along the Wyoming Valley and list livestock and farm equipment among the estate's assets. Later wills from the coal era reflect industrial wealth, company stock, and the complex family structures that came with successive waves of immigration.
Estate inventories from the 19th century are particularly rich for Luzerne County genealogical research. Appraisers listed every item of personal property with assigned values, producing documents that read like a catalog of everyday life. Household goods, tools, books, clothing, and financial instruments all appear in these inventories. Combined with the will itself and any estate accounts, these records provide a thorough picture of a household's composition and the distribution of its assets after death.
The Pennsylvania State Archives maintains microfilm and digital collections relevant to Luzerne County's older records. Some early court and probate records from the colonial and early national periods have been preserved through archival programs. Researchers working on 18th century Luzerne County families should check the State Archives finding aids alongside the county courthouse records for a complete picture.
Luzerne County Inheritance Tax and State Resources
The Luzerne County Register of Wills collects inheritance taxes as agent for the Commonwealth. Personal representatives file the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Return through this office and submit payment, which is forwarded to the Department of Revenue. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue provides current forms, rate tables, and instructions for all Pennsylvania inheritance tax filings. Tax rates vary based on the beneficiary's relationship to the decedent, with spouses exempt and others subject to different rates by class.
The Pennsylvania Orphans' Court forms page provides standardized petition forms used for all probate and estate proceedings in Luzerne County. The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal offers online searches of court case records statewide, including some Orphans' Court matters from Luzerne County. The Registers of Wills Association of Pennsylvania supports county offices and provides a network of resources for estate practitioners working across the state. For plain-language guidance on Pennsylvania wills and estate administration, PA Probate Help offers accessible explanations suited to non-attorneys managing a first estate filing.
Luzerne County Probate and Genealogy Research Tips
Genealogical research in Luzerne County benefits from the depth of the probate record series. Wills, estate inventories, letters of administration, and Orphans' Court dockets together create a layered record of family life across multiple generations. Many 19th century Luzerne County wills name large families with multiple children, grandchildren, and sometimes nieces, nephews, or neighbors who received specific bequests.
The anthracite coal era brought a diverse population to Luzerne County. Estate records from the late 19th and early 20th centuries often include names from Welsh, Irish, Polish, Lithuanian, Italian, Slovak, and other immigrant communities. Many of these families left wills or had estates administered through the Wilkes-Barre courthouse. Probate records from this period can help researchers trace immigrant family connections and document the transition from one generation to the next.
When beginning a Luzerne County probate research project, start with the name index at the Register of Wills office. From there, the estate file number or will book reference leads directly to the underlying documents. Combining courthouse records with the State Archives holdings and the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes for legal context gives researchers a thorough foundation for understanding what each document represents and how it fits into the estate administration process.
Note: Luzerne County's large population and long history mean that common surnames may yield multiple results in the probate index; always verify with the date of death and known family connections before relying on any single estate file as the one you are seeking.
Nearby Counties
Luzerne County sits in northeastern Pennsylvania and borders several counties with their own probate court records offices.