Westmoreland County Probate Records Dating to 1773
Westmoreland County probate court records date to 1773, making this one of the oldest continuous probate archives in Pennsylvania. The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court office is located at 2 N. Main Street in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Katie Pecarchik serves as Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court for this third class county in southwestern Pennsylvania. Westmoreland County's long history means its probate archive spans the colonial era through the present, covering more than 250 years of estate history. The Greensburg courthouse is the official repository for all Westmoreland County wills, estate inventories, and probate proceedings.
Westmoreland County Quick Facts
Westmoreland County Register of Wills and Orphans' Court
The Westmoreland County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court is located at 2 N. Main Street, Greensburg, PA 15601. The office phone is 724-830-3177. Katie Pecarchik holds the elected position of Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court for Westmoreland County, which is classified as a third class county in Pennsylvania's county classification system.
As Register of Wills, Pecarchik oversees the probate of all wills submitted to the Westmoreland County office. When a person dies owning property in Westmoreland County and leaves a valid will, the document must be admitted to probate before the named executor can act on behalf of the estate. The Register reviews the document for compliance with Pennsylvania law and issues letters testamentary when the will is admitted. For those who die without a valid will, the Register issues letters of administration to an appointed estate administrator.
The Westmoreland County Register also maintains records of estate inventories filed during the administration process. These inventories list the deceased person's assets at the time of death, providing a detailed accounting of property owned. For genealogical researchers, these inventories are among the most informative documents in any estate file, often naming specific household goods, livestock, farm implements, and financial instruments held by Westmoreland County decedents.
Note: The Register of Wills in Westmoreland County also processes Pennsylvania inheritance tax returns and payments submitted through the local office, acting as an agent of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
Westmoreland County Probate Records From 1773
Westmoreland County's probate records begin in 1773, a date that places the earliest estate filings in the period before American independence. The county's location in southwestern Pennsylvania, near the confluence of major western migration routes, means its early probate records document some of the first European settlers in the region. Wills and inventories from the late eighteenth century provide a window into the material life of frontier Pennsylvania families who settled the Greensburg area.
The depth of the Westmoreland County probate archive is unusual even by Pennsylvania standards. Most counties have records beginning in the early nineteenth century. Westmoreland County's records starting in 1773 predate many neighboring counties by decades. Researchers with ancestors in southwestern Pennsylvania who predate the formation of neighboring counties may find that Westmoreland County's probate records cover a larger geographic area in their earliest decades.
The FamilySearch Westmoreland County genealogy page provides an overview of the records available for genealogical research in the county, including probate materials. FamilySearch has indexed and in some cases digitized portions of Pennsylvania county probate records, providing a starting point for online research before visiting the Greensburg courthouse.
Note: Researchers consulting the earliest Westmoreland County probate records should be aware that record survival and completeness vary for eighteenth-century documents, and the Pennsylvania State Archives may hold supplemental microfilmed copies.
Westmoreland County Orphans' Court Jurisdiction
The Orphans' Court in Westmoreland County exercises broad jurisdiction over estate administration, guardianship proceedings, and trust supervision. As Clerk of Orphans' Court, Katie Pecarchik maintains the official docket for all proceedings before this court in Greensburg. The court supervises contested estate matters, reviews accountings filed by fiduciaries, and handles petitions related to the management of property held for vulnerable persons.
Guardianship proceedings are a significant part of the Westmoreland County Orphans' Court docket. When a minor inherits a substantial amount or when an adult becomes incapacitated, a guardianship petition may be filed with the Clerk in Greensburg. The court appoints a guardian of the person and sometimes a separate guardian of the estate, requiring periodic accountings to verify proper management of the ward's assets.
The Westmoreland County Orphans' Court also supervises the administration of trusts established under wills or by deed. When a trustee seeks court approval for a transaction or files a formal accounting, the proceeding is docketed with the Clerk and heard before the court. These records form part of the ongoing Westmoreland County probate court archive, adding to the estate history documentation that stretches back to 1773.
Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax in Westmoreland County Estates
Pennsylvania inheritance tax applies to all taxable estates probated in Westmoreland County. The Westmoreland County Register of Wills collects inheritance tax returns and payments on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. The tax is assessed at rates that vary based on the relationship between the beneficiary and the deceased person.
Surviving spouses are exempt from Pennsylvania inheritance tax entirely. Children and other lineal descendants pay 4.5 percent on assets received. Siblings pay 12 percent. All other beneficiaries pay 15 percent. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue administers this tax and provides complete information on filing deadlines, required forms, and payment procedures for Westmoreland County estates and those across the Commonwealth.
The inheritance tax returns filed through the Westmoreland County Register of Wills are part of the permanent probate record. These documents identify all beneficiaries by name, specify the assets each received, and show the tax calculation and payment. Genealogical researchers find these returns particularly valuable because they often name heirs who are not mentioned in the will itself, providing a more complete picture of the deceased person's family.
Note: A five percent discount on inheritance tax is available when payment is made within three months of the decedent's death, which applies to Westmoreland County estates as it does throughout Pennsylvania.
Searching Westmoreland County Probate Court Records
Researchers seeking Westmoreland County probate court records can search in person at the Register of Wills office in Greensburg. Staff can assist with name-based searches for estates probated in Westmoreland County. Providing the deceased person's full name, approximate year of death, and any known spelling variations will help staff locate the correct file in the county's extensive probate archive.
The image below is from the Pennsylvania State Archives online research portal, which provides guidance on accessing historical county probate and estate records from across Pennsylvania, including Westmoreland County.
The Pennsylvania State Archives is a useful resource for Westmoreland County researchers seeking microfilmed copies of older records or additional finding aids for the county's extensive probate archive dating to 1773.
Pennsylvania Probate Law and Resources
Westmoreland County probate court proceedings are governed by Title 20 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. This statute covers all aspects of estate administration in Pennsylvania, from the requirements for a valid will through the final distribution of assets and discharge of the fiduciary. All Westmoreland County probate proceedings must conform to this statutory framework.
The Pennsylvania Orphans' Court forms are the standard documents for filings in the Westmoreland County Orphans' Court. These forms are available through the Pennsylvania court system at no charge and cover all common probate and estate administration filings. Using the correct forms helps ensure that submissions to the Westmoreland County probate office are accepted and processed without delay.
The image below shows the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal, which provides online access to docket information for Westmoreland County Orphans' Court cases filed in the modern electronic system.
The UJS portal is a convenient tool for tracking the status of pending Westmoreland County Orphans' Court proceedings and reviewing docket entries without visiting the Greensburg courthouse in person.
Note: The Registers of Wills Association of Pennsylvania provides a statewide directory and guidance applicable to Westmoreland County, and the PA Code Title 231 sets the procedural rules for all Pennsylvania Orphans' Court proceedings.
Nearby Counties
Westmoreland County is in southwestern Pennsylvania and borders several counties with their own probate court records offices.