Filing an Estate at the Northampton County Register of Wills: A Step-by-Step Guide for Executors
If the person who died lived in Northampton County — which includes most of Bethlehem, Easton, Nazareth, Hellertown and the surrounding boroughs — their estate is opened at the Register of Wills in Easton. This is what that involves.
Our office is on East Broad Street in Bethlehem, a short drive from the courthouse, and this is the office we deal with most often.
Where you are going
The Northampton County Register of Wills is in the Northampton County Courthouse, lower level, 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. For probate enquiries the county gives 610-829-6487 or 610-829-6486.
What to take with you
- The original will — the signed original, not a copy.
- A certified death certificate.
- Photo identification.
- An estimate of what the estate is worth, since the filing fee is calculated from it.
- Names and addresses of everyone named in the will, or of the next of kin if there is none.
- A means of payment. Worth a quick call to confirm what the office accepts.
What you leave with
Assuming the will is accepted and you are the named executor, you are sworn in and issued Letters Testamentary. Without a will, you apply instead for Letters of Administration.
Those Letters are the key to everything that follows. No bank will discuss the account, no insurer will pay out, and no buyer will complete on the house until they have seen them. Order several certified copies while you are there.
What it costs
Fees run on a sliding scale set against the value of the estate, with additional charges per certified copy. There are also publication costs, since notice of the grant has to be advertised.
The clock starts at the date of death
This is the part that catches families out. The deadlines do not run from the day you open the estate. They run from the day the person died.
Three months to pay inheritance tax and claim the discount. Nine months for the return and the balance. Both are explained in our guide to the Pennsylvania inheritance tax.
The return itself is filed here, with the Register of Wills, rather than sent to Harrisburg — which surprises most people who have read general American guidance.
A Bethlehem complication worth knowing
Bethlehem sits across two counties. A Bethlehem address does not automatically mean Northampton County. If the person lived on the Lehigh County side, the estate belongs in Allentown instead, and filing in the wrong place wastes a trip.
If you are unsure which applies, it is a two-minute question on the phone and worth asking before you drive anywhere.
Common questions
Can I do this myself?
For a simple estate with a clear will and cooperative beneficiaries, many people do. It becomes worth having help when there is property to sell, a business involved, a family disagreement, or an estate large enough that the tax treatment genuinely matters.
What if I cannot find the original will?
Stop before you go. There is a procedure for proving a lost will, but it is not something to improvise at the counter.
How long before I can access the accounts?
Usually as soon as you have the Letters, though each institution has its own process. Read more on how long probate takes 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.