Probate and Recording Deeds in Delaware County (Media), Pennsylvania
Where to file a will or open probate, and where to record a deed, in Delaware County (Media) — with the state rules that apply.
Probate court
Delaware County Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans' Court Division
Phone: (610) 891-4400
Recording deeds
Delaware County Recorder of Deeds
E-recording: yes - Simplifile, CSC - https://www.delcopa.gov/recorder-deeds/e-recording-delaware-county
Recording fee: Deed: $117.25 total for up to 4 pages, 4 names and 10 folios ($38.00 base + $18.00 affordable housing + $41.25 state Acts + $5.00 improvement fund + $15.00 Act 152); $4.00 each additional page Fee schedule
Pennsylvania rules that apply
| Small estate affidavit | Pennsylvania has no general small estate affidavit. Instead, certain assets may be paid directly to family without letters: an employer may pay up to $10,000 in wages or employee benefits; a bank or credit union must pay deposits of up to $20,000 per institution to the spouse, a child, a parent or a sibling (in that order of preference) when a receipted funeral bill or a funeral director's affidavit is presented; a facility may pay up to $10,000 from a medical-assistance patient's care account; an insurer may pay up to $11,000 owed to the estate after 60 days; and the State Treasurer may release unclaimed property of $20,000 or less to the spouse or close relatives on a sworn affidavit if no personal representative has been appointed (or five years have passed since appointment). Real estate cannot pass this way. Act 50 of 2025 raised the bank deposit limit from $10,000 to $20,000 (effective 60 days after enactment on November 24, 2025) and the unclaimed property limit from $11,000 to $20,000 (effective 180 days after enactment). Source: 20 Pa.C.S. § 3101 |
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| Probate steps | 1) Probate the will and apply for letters before the Register of Wills of the county where the decedent last lived (letters testamentary for a named executor; letters of administration otherwise). 2) The personal representative takes an oath and, unless excused, files a bond. 3) Immediately after letters are granted, advertise the grant once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation and in the county's designated legal periodical, asking creditors to present claims. 4) Give notice of the estate administration to beneficiaries and heirs (statewide form RW-07). 5) File a verified inventory with the Register by the earlier of the date the account is filed or the inheritance tax return due date (or sooner if a party in interest requests it in writing). 6) Pay debts and inheritance tax, then distribute either at the representative's own risk or after filing an account with the orphans' court division for audit or confirmation. Inventory timing is in Chapter 33 (§ 3301); distribution and accounting rules are in Chapter 35. |
| Signing and recording a deed | Deeds are recorded with the county Recorder of Deeds. Pennsylvania imposes a state realty transfer tax of 1% of the value of the real estate, collected by the Recorder of Deeds, often together with an additional local realty transfer tax; the grantor and grantee are jointly and severally liable for it. Certain transfers are exempt, including certain transfers among family members and property passing by will or intestacy. The local transfer tax rate varies by municipality and school district; check with the county Recorder of Deeds. Deeds are customarily acknowledged before a notary for recording. |
| Transfer-on-death deed | No. Pennsylvania has not adopted a transfer on death deed for real estate. Its transfer on death law covers securities and security accounts registered in beneficiary form. Source: 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 64 |
All Pennsylvania wills, probate and estate rules · Eviction court and tenant help in Delaware County (Media)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.