Estate Planning & Administration

Bucks County Register of Wills — Fee Schedule (Effective Oct. 1, 2025)

Filing fees at the Register of Wills are set by the Register and approved by the court. The schedule below reflects the current Bill of Costs as published by Acting Register Douglas Wayne, Esquire, effective October 1, 2025.

Probate Filing Fees (Petition for Letters)

The initial probate fee is graduated based on the estimated gross value of probate assets:

Gross Estate ValueFee
$0 – $5,000$50.00
$5,001 – $10,000$75.00
$10,001 – $25,000$125.00
$25,001 – $50,000$175.00
$50,001 – $100,000$225.00
$100,001 – $200,000$325.00
$200,001 – $300,000$425.00
Each additional $100,000 or fraction+$150.00

Plus Commonwealth & County fees: ACP ($10.00) + JCP ($41.25) + Public Law Library ($20.00) = $71.25 additional on every probate filing.

Additional Probate Fee

The initial fee is based on the estimated gross value. When the Inheritance Tax Return and Inventory are filed, the actual gross value is calculated. If the actual value exceeds the estimate, an additional probate fee is charged at the same graduated rate.

Common ROW Filing Fees

ItemFee
Affidavit$25.00
Bond & Waiver of Bond (Probate)$25.00
Caveat — Formal (incl. Bond)$125.00
Caveat — Informal$60.00
Certification (filed or issued, +$1/page)$25.00
Codicil (filing/each)$25.00
Commission$60.00
Death Certificate (non-probate estate)$25.00
Exemplification (issued)$60.00 + $1/page
Hearing before the Register$250.00
REV-1500 (with Probate)NC
REV-1500 — Non-Probate Only$25.00
REV-1500 — Supplemental Return$25.00
Inventory (Original)$25.00
Letters (reissue/revocation/successor)$95.00
Notice of Appeal from Probate$95.00
Petitions$95.00
  with Citations (each)+$40.00
Renunciation / Rejection / Designation$25.00
Short Certificate$15.00
Subpoena$25.00
Witness Affidavit$25.00

NC = No Charge. Certification of Notice (O.C. Rule 10.5) and Status Reports (O.C. Rule 10.6) are free when e-filed; $25 if paper filed. Credit card surcharges apply: 3% for amounts over $700.

Poundage (Court-Determined Distribution)

When monies are determined by the court: 5% on the first $1,000, plus 1% on each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof.

Practical Examples

Typical small estate ($150,000 gross): Probate fee $325 + ACP/JCP/PLL $71.25 + inventory $25 + short certificates (×3) $45 = approximately $466 in ROW filing fees alone (excluding advertising, appraisals, and attorney fees).

Larger estate ($500,000 gross): Probate fee $725 ($425 base + $150×2 for additional $200K) + $71.25 + inventory + certificates ≈ $871+ in filing fees.

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