Filing an Estate at the Lehigh County Register of Wills: What to Bring, What It Costs, How Long It Takes
If someone has died and they lived in Lehigh County, the estate is opened at the Register of Wills in Allentown. This page explains what that actually involves — what to take with you, what happens while you are there, and what starts running the moment it is done.
Where you are going
The Lehigh County Register of Wills is part of the Clerk of Judicial Records, in the Lehigh County Courthouse, Room 122, 455 West Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, and the number is (610) 782-3170.
You want to go in person for the first appointment, and it is worth calling ahead. The office cannot give you legal advice, but it can tell you whether it is holding an original will and what it expects to see.
What to take with you
- The original will. Not a photocopy, not a scan. If the original cannot be found, the process changes and you should speak to a lawyer before you go.
- A certified death certificate.
- Your own photo identification.
- A rough figure for the estate. The filing fee is calculated from the value of the estate, so the office needs an estimate before it can tell you what to pay.
- Names and addresses of the beneficiaries named in the will, or of the next of kin if there is no will.
- A means of payment. Call ahead to check what the office accepts on the day.
What happens while you are there
The will is filed and, assuming everything is in order, you are sworn in as executor. You leave with Letters Testamentary — or Letters of Administration if there was no will. That document is what banks, insurers and the county recorder will ask to see before they will speak to you about the deceased’s affairs.
Take more certified copies of the Letters than you think you need. Every institution wants its own, and coming back for more is an afternoon you will not enjoy twice.
What it costs
The filing fee is set on a sliding scale against the value of the estate, with separate charges for certified copies and short certificates. Because the scale is tied to the estate value, the office cannot quote you a figure until it has your estimate.
The deadlines that start running
Two dates matter from the moment of death, not from the day you open the estate.
Three months. Pennsylvania offers a discount on inheritance tax paid within three months of the death. Most families never hear about it in time. It is explained in full in our guide to the Pennsylvania inheritance tax.
Nine months. The inheritance tax return and payment are due nine months after the date of death.
There is also a duty to advertise the grant of Letters, and to give written notice to beneficiaries. Missing those does not usually end the estate, but it delays closing it.
What happens next
Once you have the Letters, the work is inventory, notification, paying debts and taxes, and finally distribution. How long that takes depends far more on the assets than on the county. We have written separately about what to expect during probate in Pennsylvania and how long probate takes.
Common questions
Do I need a lawyer to open an estate in Lehigh County?
Not as a matter of law for a straightforward estate. It becomes worth it when there is real estate, a business, a blended family, a missing will, or a dispute brewing — and when the tax figures are large enough that getting them right matters.
What if the person lived in Bethlehem?
Bethlehem straddles the county line. Whether you file in Allentown or in Easton depends on which side of it they lived on. If you are not sure, that is worth settling before you make the trip.
What if there is no will?
The estate is still opened here, but you apply for Letters of Administration and Pennsylvania’s intestacy rules decide who inherits. We have written about what happens if you die without a will in Pennsylvania.
Talk to us about this estate
If you are the executor or administrator, the useful first conversation is usually short. We can tell you what has to be filed, what the deadlines are in your case, and what you can safely leave until later.
Joseph F. Leeson III trained and practiced as a CPA before he practiced law — four years in tax accounting at an international public accounting firm and a large financial corporation. He holds a JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law and an MBA in accounting from DeSales University, and was named to MSN’s Legal Powerlist: 2026’s Most Respected Lawyers. He was born and raised in Bethlehem.
If you are dealing with a recent death, say so when you call and we will tell you what needs doing first, whether or not you go on to instruct us.
This page explains general principles of Pennsylvania law and is not legal advice for your situation. Court procedures, fees and deadlines change. Please speak to us before acting on anything here.