Required Filings & Deadlines in Bucks County

Immediately after grant of letters: Publish estate notice once a week for 3 consecutive weeks in the Bucks County Law Reporter AND a local paper of general circulation (20 Pa.C.S. § 3162). File proof of advertising with ROW.

Within 3 months of grant of letters: File Certification of Notice under Pa.O.C. Rule 10.5. This certifies you have sent written Notice of Estate Administration to all beneficiaries, heirs, and other required parties. E-file free at propublic.buckscountyonline.org; $25 fee if paper-filed. If not filed timely, the Register must notify the Court of the delinquency (Rule 10.5(e)).

Within 3 months of death: Consider prepaying estimated inheritance tax to capture the 5% discount. Use the ROW's Inheritance Tax Payment Form; checks payable to "Register of Wills, Agent." A death certificate must accompany the form if it's a new filing.

Within 9 months of death (or earlier): File the verified Inventory (Form RW-09) with the Register of Wills (20 Pa.C.S.A. § 3301(c)).

Within 9 months of death: File the PA Inheritance Tax Return (REV-1500) and pay all tax due. Original ink-signed return to ROW Doylestown office. Second copy without confidential attachments also filed.

2 years from date of death: File Status Report under Pa.O.C. Rule 10.6. If the estate remains open, file annually thereafter until administration is complete.

When ready to close: File formal account with Clerk of Orphans' Court (by the 5th Wednesday before the target audit date), accompanied by Petition for Adjudication and Statement of Proposed Distribution.