Quick answer: if it's just bank accounts under $20,000 per bank, ask each institution directly — no court needed. For up to $50,000 in mixed personal property, file a petition with the Orphans' Court through the Register of Wills. Check which applies with the Pennsylvania small estate checker.
Step by step: the §3102 petition
- Total the personal property, excluding real estate and certain exempt items.
- Confirm the total is $50,000 or less.
- File the petition with the Orphans' Court through the county Register of Wills, paying the filing fee (typically $150-$500).
- Address known creditors as part of the distribution.
- File and pay the Pennsylvania inheritance tax return (REV-1500) — the simplified process doesn't remove this obligation.
- Receive the court's distribution order and present it to asset holders.
Check the bank shortcut first
Each bank has its own paperwork
Generally, the requester provides a death certificate, proof of their relationship to the decedent, and the bank's own affidavit form — specific requirements can vary slightly by institution within the statute's overall framework.
Creditors still matter, even in the simplified process
The small estate petition doesn't eliminate creditor obligations — known debts still need to be addressed as part of the distribution the Orphans' Court directs.
Genuinely fast, once filed
The petition process often takes just a matter of weeks, since there's no personal representative to formally appoint and no full estate administration to complete.
A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.
The $20,000 and $50,000 thresholds apply the same way in Philadelphia, Allegheny, and every other Pennsylvania county — only the filing fee and local Register of Wills procedures differ.