FAQs • Chester County, PA • CivicEngage

What records are available to the public?: ALL records in the Register of Wills, Orphans’ Court and Marriage License Department are open to the public with the exception of adoptions or any other records impounded by court order. Public access to adoptions and other impounded records require a court order.

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Register of Wills/Orphans' Court - General

1. Legal advice and information disclaimer: The Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court frequently receive requests for assistance in preparing and/or filing forms required for a particular matter. Our staff are not permitted to offer opinions, directions or instructions on any matter that may be construed as legal advice. The Register of Wills provides, as required, many of the forms needed for estate administration, including the Inheritance Tax Return. The offering of these forms is not a statement that no other forms are necessary or that those provided must be completed in every instance. The Clerk of the Orphans’ Court, acting as a conduit for the Court, accepts filings for Orphans’ Court matters. The Court, in accordance with federal, state and local rules and statutes, determines the correctness of the filings. The Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court have prepared the information provided on this website. Nothing contained herein is intended to be legal advice or to offer any opinion of the legal remedies available or appropriate in any particular circumstance. It is hoped that the information presented will merely be useful in answering frequently asked questions concerning the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court.

2. Where is your office?: The office is on the second floor, Suite 2200, of the Chester County Justice Center, located at 201 West Market Street in West Chester, PA.

3. What are your hours?: The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm, excluding holidays. Please check the county website to see which days we will be closed. Marriage applications and estate probates are accepted by appointment ONLY. Please go to our main website at www.chesco.org/wills or call 610-344-6335 to make an appointment. All other filings will be accepted until 4:15 pm.
Chester County Government Holidays

4. Can I request information by phone?: Yes. Call the office at 610-344-6335. If you provide a name, we will search our records for that name. If a record is found, a file number is provided. Once you know the file number, more detailed information can be requested by mail. There is a nominal fee depending on the type of information requested.

5. Can I request information by email?: Yes, email us at [email protected]. If you provide a name, we will search our records for that name. If a record is found, a file number is provided. Once you know the file number, more detailed information can be requested by mail. There is a nominal fee depending on the type of information requested.

6. How far back do your records go?: The records go back to 1924 for Register of Wills and Orphans’ Court. Marriage licenses go back to 1930. Records are in various formats-paper, microfilm or scanned images. For records before those years, contact the Chester County Archives Department at 610-344-6760 or visit chesco.org/archives.

7. What records are available to the public?: ALL records in the Register of Wills, Orphans’ Court and Marriage License Department are open to the public with the exception of adoptions or any other records impounded by court order. Public access to adoptions and other impounded records require a court order.

8. Can anyone obtain records from your office?: Yes. All non-impounded records are available to anyone. Copies of records are provided for a nominal fee.