Montgomery County Probate Records

Montogomery probate records are court documents containing information about the administration of a deceased person's estate. These records include wills, inventories, and accounts and are primarily needed to transfer property, real estate, or personal belongings from a deceased person to beneficiaries. Probate records may be obtained online through Montgomery County court record repositories or in person at the Montgomery County Register of Wills office. Basic information about the record would be required to facilitate the search. Probate is essential for the following reasons, including:

• A person can use a deceased person's probate records to trace family lineage.
• Family members can use probate records to claim an inheritance, resolve disputes over an estate, or verify the authenticity of a will.
• Creditors can use probate records to determine if they are owed money from a deceased person's estate.
• Journalists, scholars, or historians can use probate records to study social structures, economic trends, or famous individuals' lives.
• Judges can use probate records to establish rightful beneficiaries when a will is contested or missing.
• Financial investigators can use probate records to verify how a deceased person's property and assets were distributed.

Are Probate Records Public?

Yes. The Pennsylvania Right-To-Know Law and Section 3.0 of the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System authorize the public disclosure of probate records. Individuals seeking these records can submit requests online or in person to the Montgomery County Register of Wills. The request should clearly describe the desired record to facilitate the search. Before publicly releasing a probate record, the Register of Wills will typically redact confidential information, like the social security number.

What is Probate Court in Montgomery County?

The Montgomery County Register of Wills is responsible for probating wills and processing estates without wills. It also appoints representatives for deceased persons who die with or without a will. The Register of Wills office is located at:

The Montgomery County Register of Wills
One Montgomery Plaza
425 Swede Street, 4th Floor
Norristown, PA 19401
Phone: (610) 278-3400
Email: ROWSupport@montgomerycountypa.gov

Probate Court Case Lookup

The Montgomery County Register of Wills maintains an online portal where members of the public can look up probate court cases. To conduct a search, inquirers may visit the portal and go to the left navigation plane. Then, click the Case Search, Case Party Search, or Probate Case Caveat Search link and enter the appropriate criteria in the search box. This service is free. Alternatively, requesters can visit the Montgomery County Register of Wills' Office from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., to submit probate court record requests. The staff will provide a request form that must be completed before the record request is processed. Requesters will be charged $1 per page for copies of probate records.

How to Find Probate Records Online Free

Although copies of probate records can only be retrieved in person at the Montgomery County Register of Wills for a fee, interested persons can view such records online at no cost. Record seekers may visit the Register of Wills' online portal and search by case or party.

How Long Does Probate Take in Pennsylvania

The length of time a probate takes in Pennsylvania depends on several factors, such as the presence of a will, the complexity of the estate, and the efficiency of the court system. Generally, it takes about six months to over a year.

The probate process begins when an executor or personal representative of the estate files a petition with the Register of Wills where the deceased resided. If the person dies without a will, the court will appoint an administrator to manage the estate. After filing the petition, the executor or administrator will notify heirs and creditors, pay any outstanding debts and taxes, and inventory the deceased's assets. After this, the executor or administrator will distribute the remaining estate according to the will or state intestacy laws if no will exists.

Are Wills Public Record?

Yes. All wills are open to the public in Montgomery County unless impounded by court order. Record seekers can visit the Montgomery County Register of Wills office during business hours to obtain copies. The staff charges $1 per page for this service.

How to Find Out If Someone Has a Will

The primary location to find a person's will is at the Register of Wills office in the county where the deceased person lived at the time of death. Requests can be made in person during business hours. Record seekers would need to provide the deceased person's name and date of birth to locate the record. Individuals can also contact the attorney who drafted the will or search the deceased person's safe deposit box or a trust department vault to find the will.

Montgomery County Family Court Case Search

Customers can conduct family court case searches at the Montgomery County Prothonotary's Office by mail or in person at the courthouse. They must complete the Request for Certified Document Form and pay a fee of $5.25 per certified document with a $0.25 per page printed. Record seekers who do not know the case number of the record will need to pay an additional $9 for the search. The fees can be paid in cash (for only in-person requests), attorney checks, money orders, or certified bank checks. Mail requests should send the form, a self-addressed stamped envelop, and fees to:

Montgomery County Courthouse
P.O. Box 311
Norristown, PA 19404-0311

Individuals who cannot afford copy fees can view family records for free through the Prothonotary's online portal. The search criteria are party name and case number. Users should select the "Family" box to view only family cases. They can filter their searches by case type, filing type, and filing date.

The Montgomery County Prothonotary's Office does not make all its family court records available. For example, adoption-related proceedings and Children, Youth, and Family Services records are deemed confidential. Also, identifying and contact information of abuse victims in family court cases is not deemed part of public records.