Philadelphia Register of Wills

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John P. Sabatina, Esq. - Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court. Nothing we say in comments is legal advice. Get counsel for specific questions.

We are just giving best practices the best we can.

10/30/2026

Thank you to Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson for having us at your Senior Resource Fair! Our staff spoke with the seniors of the Philadelphia Senior Center on Avenue of the Arts, letting them know it’s never to late to plan their estate.

10/28/2026

Our team enjoyed a festive evening at Haunted Fall Fest on Rising Sun Avenue! 🎃🍂 Thank you to Councilman Phillips and State Representative Bellmon for hosting this wonderful community event and inviting us to be part of the fun!

10/28/2026

Last Saturday, Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court John P. Sabatina, Esq., partnered with State Representative Ed Neilson to host a successful Shredding Event!

Thank you to our dedicated volunteers, St. Jerome School, and everyone who came out to participate. Your support helped make this event a success!

10/28/2026

Welcome back to Will Wednesdays! Today, the question is, "Why do I need a will?"

If you are an adult, you should have a will. For young parents, a will allows you to appoint guardians for the inheritances of your minor children. For a middle-aged and older person, a will allows you to direct your assets to your preferred heirs, such as those most in-need.

If you don’t have a will, your heirs are dictated by state law known as Intestate Succession. Your surviving spouse does NOT automatically get everything. The spouse gets the first $30,000 of your estate plus half the remaining assets. The rest is distributed among other legal heirs.

A will also allows you to direct donations to your favorite organizations or charities and direct your own funeral arrangements.

10/28/2026

‼️2026 General Election Important Dates‼️

🗓️October 19: Last day to register to vote (by 11:59 PM)
✉️October 27: Last day to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot (by 5:00 PM)
🗳️November 3: Election Day! Polls open 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Mail ballots must be received by 8:00 PM.

‼️Save this post and make your plan to vote at vote.phila.gov

10/27/2026

Visit us tomorrow (Oct. 28) at . Joe Picozzi's Academy Road office for information about wills, probate, inheritance tax, tangled titles, marriage licenses, and marriage records.

10/26/2026

Happy Birthday to the minority Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, State Senator Vincent Hughes!🎉Wishing you a fantastic day!🎊🎂

10/21/2026

Every Wednesday, the Office of Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans' Court, John Sabatina, Esq., is answering commonly asked questions about wills 📜

Starting today, what is a will?

A will is a signed and dated document composed by a person at least 18 years of age and of sound mind. The purpose of a will is to direct the distribution of the person’s assets upon their death. Assets include money, real estate, financial accounts, and other possessions.

A will may also be used to appoint guardians of the estates of your underage heirs, to direct charitable donations from your estate, or to direct your funeral arrangements.

See you next Will Wednesday!

10/20/2026

Today, the team will be at the Dixon House from 11:30am to 3:30pm and every third Tuesday of the month. Marriage record request applications will be available for anyone interested in a certified copy of their marriage record. Our team will also be available to answer questions on the probate process, inheritance taxes, and title clearance.

Address

Room 180 City Hall 1400 JFK Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA
19107

Telephone

+12156866250

Website

http://Phila.gov/wills

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