Register of Wills

As we navigate out of the Coronavirus pandemic, we ask all attorneys and citizens to continue to conduct business virtually as much as possible and limit in-person visits to our office.  Please continue to contact our staff by phone, email, mail and Judicial Center dropbox in the building entrance.

We are continuing to schedule virtual appointments for Will Probates & Estate Administration using video conferencing.  Click the E-file for Wills & Estates tab to begin the petition process.

Questions, please contact us:

Wills & Estates - (717) 771-9607 RegisterOfWills@old.yorkcountypa.gov

Marriage Licenses & Orphans' Court - (717) 771-9288 OrphansCourt@old.yorkcountypa.gov

Emergency Petitions - (717) 771-9258

 

Thank you for your cooperation.  Bryan K. Tate

 

Bryan K. Tate - Register of Wills

Ara Kimberly McPherson - Chief Deputy Register

MacGregor J. Brillhart, Esq. - Solicitor

 

Bryan Tate

Bryan K. Tate

York Co. Register of Wills/Clerk of Orphans' Court (2020 to present)

E-mail: RegisterOfWills@old.yorkcountypa.gov

York County Judicial Center
Second Floor
45 North George Street
York, PA 17401

Phone: (717) 771-9607

Fax: (717) 771-4678   

 

Read the 2020 annual report by clicking here.  estate notice

Commonwealth of PA Auditor General Audit Report for the office of Register of Wills - January 1, 2016-December 31, 2019

Financial Statement Audit For the Year Ended December 31, 2020

The Register of Wills is an elected official who serves as Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court. The Register of Wills has jurisdiction of the probate of wills and the grant of letters to a personal representative.

Letters Testamentary (with a will) or Letters of Administration (no will) are granted to properly qualified individuals who meet the requirements of the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code. When disputes arise at the time of probate, the Register, as a quasi-judicial officer, is empowered to hold a hearing, take testimony, review evidence and render a decision on the issue presented.

The Register of Wills is agent for the collection of Inheritance Tax for the Commonwealth of PA, Department of Revenue, Inheritance Tax Division.  In the calendar year 2020, Inheritance Tax collections totaled nearly $27 million. 

Since 2000, the Register of Wills remitted in excess of $454 million to the PA Department of Revenue, Inheritance Tax Division from York County Estates.

The office of the Register of Wills is open for the transaction of business (i.e. Probates and Filings) on weekdays from 8 a.m. until 4:15 pm.

Attention: No cell phones, pagers, weapons or cameras are permitted in the York County Judicial Center. Please click here for a full list of prohibited items.