News

Published on: 10/15/2014

York County Register of Wills/Clerk of Orphans’ Court Bradley C. Jacobs today announced that a recent audit by the Pennsylvania Auditor General gave his office a clean bill of health following a review of its financial practices and controls.

The Auditor General in October completed the regularly scheduled audit of the office for the period January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2012. The audit found that the office had correctly assessed and remitted nearly $105 million to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania over the applicable period. It also found that the office was utilizing proper internal controls to prevent fraud and financial errors.

“We’re proud of the results of this audit and its positive reflection upon the way our office operates,” Jacobs said. “We are committed to serving our County and court system in the most effective and efficient way possible.”

The Auditor General’s office reviewed the Clerk of Orphans’ Court/Register of Wills office in accordance with state law and applicable accounting standards, according to the audit results.

Over the applicable period, the audit shows that the Register of Wills Office properly collected and remitted more than $104.5 million in inheritance tax from estates opened in York County, with another $258,573 collected and remitted by the Clerk of Orphans’ Court in state
fees for the issuance of marriage licenses.

Combined, the total reached $104,825,930 over the five-year period, according to the audit.

Jacobs took office in 2000 and has since opened 27,713 estates and issued 34,281 marriage licenses.

As an agent for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, his office has collected $272.1 million in inheritance tax since 2000 and another $771,720 in marriage license fees.

The Department of Revenue over that span has reimbursed the county $1.7 million for Jacobs’ work collecting inheritance tax. The department returns a portion of the tax to support the County’s costs collecting it on behalf of the state.