Pennsylvania Probate Costs
Reasonable compensation under PA orphans' court practice; no statutory fee schedule, reasonable compensation per 20 Pa.C.S. Section 3537
Pennsylvania Probate Overview
Pennsylvania follows a reasonable compensation model for probate fees, where attorney and executor fees are determined by what the court considers fair for the work performed. Under PA orphans' court practice; no statutory fee schedule, reasonable compensation per 20 Pa.C.S. Section 3537, fees are based on the gross value of the estate. This means costs can vary depending on the complexity of the estate and the professionals involved.
Attorney fees are typically around 3.5% of the gross estate value. The court filing fee in Pennsylvania is $250 (PA Register of Wills filing fee average (varies by county)). You should also budget for surety bond premiums and newspaper publication fees required by law.
The probate process in Pennsylvania typically takes 9 to 18 months from filing to final distribution. For smaller estates valued at $50,000 or less, Pennsylvania offers a simplified probate procedure that can bypass the full probate process (20 Pa.C.S. Section 3102).