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Register of Wills / Orphans' Court
CHANGE IN STATE FEE
The JCS/ATJ/CJEA Fee charged by the state is decreasing from $40.25 to $19.00. The change goes into effect August 1, 2023.
Current Office Operations
Our office is open to the public for all filings.
Estate Probates and Marriage License Applications will be accepted in person in the office. You MUST make an appointment.
Extended Office Hours for Marriage License Applications
The Marriage License office is open for extended hours each Wednesday until 6:00PM for in-person marriage license applications ONLY. You must have an appointment. All applicants with appointments at 4:30pm or after must pay with a credit card. Cash payments will not be accepted. Any couples with appointments at 4:00pm or later who require an interpreter MUST bring an interpreter with them. The interpreter must be 18 years or older and have photo identification.
PA Guardian Tracking System (GTS)
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court requires that court-appointed guardians of an adult person who has been adjudicated incapacitated file the required inventory and annual reports online. Guardians can set up an account for GTS by visiting the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Courts web portal. Guardians who do not have access to the internet can come into the Clerk of the Orphans' Court office and use a public access computer to file their required reports online. The Chester County Clerk of the Orphans' Court will no longer accept paper or emailed filings of inventory and annual reports.
Public Access Policy
Information and forms pertaining to Chester County's Public Access Policy.
Credit and Debit Card Payment of Office Fees
This office accepts payments from MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover. In addition to the cost of the office fee the payment processing company charges a convenience fee of 2.25% of the total amount paid or a $1.50 minimum to the cardholders who use this service.
Mediation Program
The Mediation Program is intended to provide the participant prompt access to dispute resolution proceedings that are fair, confidential, effective, and cost far less than a court proceeding. In many cases, mediation may allow the parties to reach agreements that will suit them much better than a court decision, and may promote healing of strained family relationships. Learn more.
Electronic Filing Services
We accept filing of certain documents by fax or email. An electronically filed document must be signed, dated and executed as though it were the original, in accordance with the applicable filing requirements. The document will be file-stamped with the date it is received, and will be entered into the docket as though it were the original.
Electronic Transmission Options
- Fax 610-344-6218. The fax confirmation is your electronic receipt.
- Email [email protected]. The “request a read/delivery receipt” response is your electronic receipt. The electronic receipt will serve as proof that the document has been accepted for filing.
- Estate Status Report - Form 10.6
- Estate Certification of Notice - Form 10.5
- Estate Inventory
- Attorney’s Entry of Appearance
- Affidavit of Proof of Deposit of Minor’s Funds
- Motion for Continuance of a Court Scheduled Event
REAL ID Information
The REAL ID Act is a federal law that affects how states issue driver's licenses and ID cards if they are going to be accepted for federal purposes, such as boarding a domestic commercial flight or entering a federal facility that requires ID.