Register of Wills

Bradley C. Jacobs- Register of Wills

E-mail: BCJacobs@yorkcountypa.gov

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

Phone: (717) 771-9607 Fax: (717) 771-4678

Ara Kimberly McPherson - Chief Deputy

Email: AKMcPherson@yorkcountypa.gov

John C. Herrold - Solicitor

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 is also an agent for the collection of inheritance taxes for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Revenue. In the calendar year 2012, the amount of inheritance tax collected by the Register of Wills was $21,969,195.02. This represents the largest annual inheritance tax collection since the register took office in 2000. Over that thirteen(13) year span, York County Estates have remitted in excess of $245 million to the PA Dept. of Revenue, Inheritance Tax Div. through the York County Register of Wills Office. The Register of Wills' office is also a great resource for genealogical information.

The office of the Register of Wills will be open for transaction of business (i.e. Probates and Filings) pertaining to said office from the hours of 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.