McDonald is a small borough of about 2,000 people with an unusual feature: it sits in two counties. Most residents live on the Washington County side, and a smaller part of town is in Allegheny County. McDonald also has a long history with oil, gas and coal, and the area once supported drilling-tool and bottle factories.
Why the county line matters
Which side of the line your home is on decides which county office handles your records.
- Washington County side: wills are probated by the Washington County Register of Wills in the courthouse at 1 South Main Street, Washington, PA, and deeds are recorded with the Washington County Recorder of Deeds.
- Allegheny County side: the Wills/Orphans’ Court Division of the Department of Court Records handles wills, at 414 Grant Street in Pittsburgh, and deeds are recorded with the county’s Department of Real Estate.
A tax bill or deed will show your county. If you are not sure, bring what you have and we will check.
How we help McDonald clients
- Wills, trusts and powers of attorney
- Settling an estate after a family member dies
- Mineral rights and gas lease review
- Title questions on older properties with long deed histories
- Deeds and property matters
Old rights, new questions
In a town with a long drilling history, it is common for oil and gas rights to have been split from the surface generations ago. That can surprise a buyer, an heir or a landowner who gets a lease offer. We read the chain of deeds and explain what you actually own.
Questions McDonald residents ask
My parent’s house is on the Allegheny side. Where is the will filed?
With the Wills/Orphans’ Court Division in Pittsburgh, because that is the county where your parent lived.
Does Pennsylvania charge inheritance tax?
Yes, on most estates. Our article on Pennsylvania inheritance tax explains the rates.
How to get started
Call (304) 982-1586 or send a short message. Tell us you are in McDonald, what kind of matter you have, and any deadline you know about. Meetings are by appointment at our office in Cecil Township. For estate planning, our estate planning checklist shows what to gather. For a gas lease, our gas lease checklist does the same.
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This page is general information, not legal advice. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.