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The Probate Bond Experts
Licensed to issue personal representative and guardian bonds filed with the Register of Wills in all 67 Pennsylvania counties. Fast approval, competitive rates, and real probate expertise.
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Complete a short application. Most people finish in just a few minutes.
When approved, bond issued within 24 hours or instant when qualified.
A probate court bond protecting heirs. Includes the executor bond (with a will), administrator bond (no will), and general personal representative bond.
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A court fiduciary bond protecting incapacitated adults. Includes the guardianship bond and financial conservator bond to prevent asset exploitation.
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A probate surety bond protecting kids' assets. Includes the guardianship bond for minors and guardian of the estate bond to preserve funds.
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A fiduciary surety bond protecting beneficiaries. Includes the trustee bond (or trust bond) to ensure legal, ethical trust management.
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Pennsylvania splits probate authority between two offices. The Register of Wills in each of the state's 67 counties probates the will, grants letters testamentary or of administration, appoints the personal representative, and handles inheritance tax returns. The Orphans' Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas handles contested matters, formal accountings, distribution disputes, and approval of real estate sales. In some counties the same judge serves both roles, but they remain distinct.
Pennsylvania is not a Uniform Probate Code state. It administers estates under the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code, the PEF Code, in Title 20. The estate fiduciary is called the personal representative, an executor when named in a will and an administrator when appointed without one. The bond rules sit in Sections 3171 through 3175.
Pennsylvania imposes no state estate tax, but it is one of the few states with an inheritance tax. The rate depends on the beneficiary's relationship to the decedent: 0 percent to a surviving spouse, 4.5 percent to lineal descendants and ancestors such as children and parents, 12 percent to siblings, and 15 percent to other heirs. A 5 percent discount applies if the tax is paid within three months of death.
When a Pennsylvania bond is required, the amount is set under 20 Pa.C.S. Section 3171:
Whether a Pennsylvania bond is required depends on the representative and the will. Under 20 Pa.C.S. Sections 3171 through 3174:
Qualifying in a Pennsylvania estate follows the PEF Code and Register of Wills practice:
When a Pennsylvania bond is required, the cost is a premium paid to the surety company. Many resident executors whose wills waive bond, and resident sole heirs, need no bond at all.
Beyond the standard personal representative bond, Pennsylvania probate practice uses several additional bond types:
Pennsylvania does not run a licensing board for private professional fiduciaries, but the PEF Code places clear duties on every personal representative:
You can check pricing or apply online once you know the bond type ordered by the court. Applications must match the bond type and amount specified in your court order or legal documents.
APPLY NOWIt depends on the representative. An individual resident executor whose will waives bond generally serves without one, as does a resident sole heir. A nonresident executor or administrator generally must post a bond, and the court can require one in other cases.
A bond is required when the will calls for it, when the court orders it, and notably when an executor or administrator is not a resident of Pennsylvania, unless a resident co-personal representative takes and keeps control of the assets.
A resident executor whose will waives bond, a resident personal representative who is the sole heir or sole beneficiary or is nominated by all the heirs, and a qualified domestic corporate fiduciary generally serve without bond.
When a bond is required, most Pennsylvania probate bonds cost about 0.5% to 1% of the bond amount per year for well-qualified applicants, so a $100,000 bond commonly runs $500 to $1,000 per year. Small bonds carry a minimum premium of about $100 to $150.
Under Section 3171 the Register of Wills sets the bond in the amount considered necessary, based on the value of the personal estate that will come into the control of the personal representative. The court may change the amount during administration.
Most Pennsylvania probate bonds are issued within 24 hours of a completed application, and qualified applicants can often be approved the same day. We keep the process moving so the surety can sign the Register's bond book on time.
Yes. Credit is one factor but not the only one. We work with multiple surety companies and can often find an approved program for applicants with credit challenges, sometimes with a co-signer or collateral.
The Register of Wills in each county probates the will, grants letters, and appoints the personal representative. The Orphans' Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas handles contested matters, accountings, and real estate sale approvals.
Yes. Pennsylvania has no estate tax but does have an inheritance tax. The rate is 0 percent to a surviving spouse, 4.5 percent to lineal descendants and ancestors, 12 percent to siblings, and 15 percent to other heirs, with a 5 percent discount for paying within three months.
Because a personal representative who lives outside Pennsylvania is harder for the court and interested persons to reach, the PEF Code requires a nonresident executor or administrator to post a bond, unless a resident co-personal representative controls the assets.
When required, the bond runs to the Commonwealth and secures faithful performance of the personal representative's duties. It protects the heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors if the personal representative mismanages the estate.
When a bond is required, it stays in force until the estate is settled and the personal representative and surety are discharged. For estates that stay open across more than one year, the premium is charged annually until that discharge.
The Pennsylvania inheritance tax return and payment are due within nine months of the date of death. Paying within three months captures a 5 percent discount, which is one of the first financial decisions a personal representative should make.
No. A probate bond is a surety bond, not insurance for the fiduciary. It protects the heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors. If the surety pays a claim, the personal representative is legally obligated to repay the surety.
No. A qualified domestic corporate fiduciary, such as a Pennsylvania bank or trust company, is not required to post bond when it serves as personal representative.
Not usually. A small estate where personal property does not exceed the statutory limit can be settled through a petition to the Orphans' Court without a bonded personal representative, though inheritance tax is still owed.
Often yes. A guardian of the estate of a minor or an incapacitated person is generally required to post a bond tied to the value of the protected estate, under the continuing supervision of the Orphans' Court.
When a bond is required, you file it with the Register of Wills in the county where the decedent was domiciled, and the surety signs the Register's bond book before or at the time letters are granted.
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FIND OUT MOREFind Pennsylvania Probate Courts by County
Once you have your bond, or if you need court addresses, phone numbers, filing hours, and local forms, visit our Pennsylvania probate court directory. We list every county court in Pennsylvania with contact information and links to local forms.
Pennsylvania Probate Court Directory