Forms & Documents

Forms marked with a blue pencil blue pencil allow you to type information into the entry blanks before printing. These forms can be saved to your computer with the data entered.

Forms marked with a red pencil red pencil allow you to type information into the entry blanks before printing. These forms cannot be saved to your computer with the data entered.

Adoption and Guardianship Packets may take several minutes to download. For best results, save the file to your computer before you open or print the document.


Public Access Information

By Order dated April 23, 2018, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania amended Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, relating to attorney competence, and 1.6, relating to confidentiality. These amendments require an attorney to be familiar with the policies and rules of courts in which the lawyer practices, which include the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.  These amendments went into effect on July 1, 2018.

Public Access Policy


General Orphans' Court



All Petitions must comply with Pa. O.C. Rule 3.5


Rule 3.5(a) Mode of proceeding on petition:  Citation Practice [to obtain personal jurisdiction]
Rule 3.5(b) Notice Practice [Requiring service with Notice prior to or contemporaneous with filing of petition. The petition must have appended to it a certificate of service]
Failure to comply with this Rule precludes scheduling of a hearing.  

Petitions for Temporary Guardianship of a Minor


Petitions for temporary guardianship pursuant to Act 88 of 2018 shall be filed with the Prothonotary.
See Administrative Regulation 2-2020.

Orphans' Court Local Rules
blue pencilAffidavit of Deposit
blue pencilEntry of Appearance for Attorneys
blue pencilEntry of Appearance for Self Representing Parties
blue pencilMotion with Order for Continuance
Remote Appearance Request Form

blue pencilChecklist for Guardian of a Minor
red pencilInventory for Guardian of a Minor*


The following Decrees are not for use with Adoptions or Guardianships of Incapacitated
blue pencilPreliminary Decree
blue pencilPreliminary Decree for Citation

*Forms provided by the AOPC

Adoptions



Adoption Termination and Report of Intent
New Case Caption Alert


Effective immediately, on all Adoption, Termination and Report of Intent filings, the Case Caption must show ONLY THE INITIALS of the adoptee/child NEVER the full name. The full name may be in the content of the filing. The Adoption Packet has been revised to reflect this change. The filings will be accepted, but Orphans’ Court Administration will request that all pages with an incorrect caption be corrected and re-submitted.

ACT 101 Notice


An Act 101 Notice must be provided in accordance with 23 Pa.C.S.A §2733(c) at the time of the filing of the petition for involuntary termination, at the time of service of the notice of the involuntary termination hearing or upon the filing of the petitions for confirmation of consent and adoption.  It is required that an affidavit of service (personal, or certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt requested) or an acknowledgement of receipt of notice signed by the birth parent(s) and/or others to whom notice must be provided be filed of record.  The adoption hearing will not be scheduled until notice and proof of acknowledgement thereof has been provided to the court.

United States/Domestic Born Children


Act 101 Forms


Checklists

Foreign Born Children


Excerpt from the Order Amending Rule 15.8 and Adopting Rule 15.9

Registration of Foreign Adoptions

red pencilPetition to Register Foreign Adoption Decree
red pencilFinal Decree Granted *Must be included with Petition
red pencilFinal Decree Denied*Must be included with Petition
red pencilVerification of Translator*

Filing Instructions*
HD01275F - Statement of Citizenship and Residency
HD01273F - Certificate of Adoption of a Foreign-Born Child
Checklist for Registration of Foreign Decree

Full Adoption of a Foreign Born Child


red pencilPetition for Adoption of a Foreign Born Child*
red pencilPreliminary Decree*
red pencilFinal Decree*
red pencilReport of Intermediary*
red pencilVerification of Translator*

HD01275F - Statement of Citizenship and Residency
HD01273F - Certificate of Adoption of a Foreign-Born Child
Checklist for Full Adoption of Foreign Born Child
*Forms provided by the AOPC

Guardian of Incapacitated


New Guardianship Orphans' Court Rules took effect June 1, 2019.  All filings must be in compliance with the new Rules prior to any matter being scheduled.

Emergency Guardianships



If you are filing an Emergency Guardianship Petition please read the Procedure.  When filing an Emergency Guardianship Petition a separate petition needs to be filed for the Emergency Guardianship in addition to the Petition for Adjudication of Incapacity.

Petitions for emergency guardianships must follow the requirements of Pa.O.C. Rule 14.2(d), as well as 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 5513 and 5511.

Submit the following forms with the Emergency Petition:
Order for Emergency Guardianship.
Order Extending Emergency Guardianship.  This order, which will extend the emergency guardianship, will only be signed upon the occurrence of a specific set of circumstances.
Preliminary Decree for Emergency Guardianship.  This will be signed if a 72-hour/extension hearing is required.

Plenary (Full or Limited) Guardianships



Preliminary Decree for Guardianship
red pencilCitation with Notice*
Checklist for Guardianship Petition (this may be used as a template for the preparation of the Guardianship Petition)
red pencilExpert Report*
Consent to Serve as Guardian
Verification for Guardianship Petition
Notice to the Court of Non Representation
Affidavit of Service of Citation with Notice & Petition
Final Order Appointing Guardian
Affidavit of Service of Right to Appeal

red pencil Notification of Mental Health Commitment SP4-131* must be filed with the Petition

red pencilNotice of Filing Reports*

Duties of the Guardian of the Person
Duties of the Guardian of the Estate

The Guardian Inventory and Annual Guardian Reports of the Estate and Person may no longer be submitted by paper; they must be submitted electronically.  Please go to the following site to submit the Guardian Inventory and Annual Guardian Reports:  http://ujsportal.pacourts.us.
*Forms provided by the AOPC

Account Audit Administration

Audit Calendar for 2020

blue pencilEntry of Appearance

Checklists

blue pencilAccount for Decedent Estate
blue pencilAccount for Incapacitated/Minor
blue pencilAccount for Trusts/Power of Attorney
blue pencilSchedule of Distribution

red pencilNotice of Charitable Gift*
Certificate of Award of Real Estate - Sample only - not to be used for filing

Model Forms of Account


Petitions for Account Adjudication


red pencilDecedent Estate*
red pencilTrust*
red pencilGuardian of Estate of Incapacitated Person*
red pencilGuardian of Estate of Minor*
red pencilPrincipal's Estate (Under Power of Attorney)*

*Forms provided by the AOPC


Decedent Estates


Frequently Asked Questions

As of September 1, 2016 many of the forms are provided directly by the AOPC.

red pencilPetition for Probate and Grant of Letters**
blue pencilEstate Information Form
red pencilOath of Subscribing Witness
blue pencilUnavailable Witness Affidavit
red pencilOath of Non-Subscribing Witness
red pencilRenunciation
red pencilInventory
red pencilCertification of Notice
red pencilStatus Report 
blue pencilShort Certificate Request form - only for estates on file in this office
blue pencilExemplification of Probate Record Request Form - only for estates on file in this office
red pencilNotice of Claim
blue pencilSmall Estate Petition and Decree  (updated for new Orphans' Court rules as of 10/1/2020)
blue pencilSmall Estate Affidavit - For insurance purposes only
blue pencilInformal Caveat
   Affidavit and Release of Bond
blue pencilAffidavit of Death

Estate Settlement Information Packet
red pencilNotice of Estate Administration
§3101 Payments to Family and Funeral Directors - Section (b) Deposit Accounts
Safe Deposit Box Inventories and Notice
** Form must be signed in the Office of the Register of Wills

Marriage Licenses


Frequently Asked Questions

blue pencilMarriage License Waiver Request Form
blue pencilCertified Marriage Record Request Form
blue pencilExemplification of Marriage Record Request Form