Short answer: The Washington County Register of Wills is the county office where estates are opened for people who lived in Washington County, Pennsylvania, when they died. It probates wills, issues letters testamentary and letters of administration, and accepts Pennsylvania inheritance tax returns. The office also serves as the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court. Since 2024 it has been located in Room 425 on the fourth floor of the county’s Crossroads Center building at 95 West Beau Street in Washington, PA, rather than in the main courthouse.
Fees, forms and hours can change, so confirm current details with the county before you go. This guide explains what the office does and how to prepare.
What the Register of Wills handles
- Probate of wills. Accepting the original will and admitting it to probate.
- Letters. Issuing letters testamentary to executors and letters of administration to administrators when there is no will.
- Short certificates. Certified proof of the personal representative’s authority, which banks and others ask for.
- Inheritance tax. Accepting Pennsylvania inheritance tax returns (Form REV-1500) and payments for the Department of Revenue.
- Estate filings. Inventories, certifications of notice and status reports.
- Orphans’ Court records. As Clerk of the Orphans’ Court, it handles filings in estate, guardianship and trust matters, as well as marriage licenses.
How to open an estate in Washington County
- Find the original will. The Register needs the original, not a copy.
- Get a death certificate. Bring a certified copy.
- Gather information. Names and addresses of heirs and beneficiaries, and an estimate of the estate’s value, which affects the filing fee.
- Complete the petition. A petition for probate and grant of letters, or for letters of administration if there is no will. Renunciations may be needed from others with a right to serve.
- Arrange the appointment and pay fees. Filing fees depend on the size of the estate. Ask the office for its current fee schedule.
- Receive letters and short certificates. Order enough short certificates for banks, investment firms and royalty payers.
After letters are issued, the personal representative must advertise the estate, send notices to heirs within three months, and meet the inheritance tax and inventory deadlines. Our executor checklist and deadline calculator lays out each step with dates, and our guide to probate in PA explains the whole process.
When the estate may not need the Register of Wills
Not every estate has to be opened. Jointly owned property, accounts with named beneficiaries and small accounts covered by the bank payment rule may pass without probate. See our guide to small estates in Pennsylvania.
Washington County estates with mineral rights
Many Washington County estates include oil and gas interests. Royalty payers will usually ask for a short certificate and later for recorded deeds or other proof of who inherited the minerals. These interests must also be valued for inheritance tax. Our mineral rights attorneys can help transfer them to heirs.
Related Washington County offices
- Recorder of Deeds: records deeds, including deeds from an estate to heirs or buyers. See how to transfer a deed in Pennsylvania.
- Orphans’ Court: hears disputes over wills, estates, trusts and guardianships.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Washington County Register of Wills?
The office moved in 2024 to Room 425 on the fourth floor of the Crossroads Center building, 95 West Beau Street, Washington, PA. Check the county’s website for current hours before you visit.
Do I need a lawyer to probate a will in Washington County?
Not to open the estate. But the steps after letters are issued, such as notices, inheritance tax and transferring real estate and mineral rights, are where many executors get help.
How long does probate take in Washington County?
Opening the estate is usually quick once the paperwork is ready. Settling it typically takes about a year or longer. See how long probate takes in Pennsylvania.
What if the person lived in Allegheny County?
The estate is opened in the county where the person lived, so an Allegheny County resident’s estate is handled by the Allegheny County Register of Wills in Pittsburgh.
Opening an estate in Washington County? Heather N. Kostrub handles probate and estate administration from our Cecil Township office. Call (304) 982-1586.