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Orphans' Court Division

The Court of Common Pleas, Orphans' Court Division

NOTICE

President Judge General Court Regulation In Re: Adoption of Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Orphans' Court Rule 5.16B, 7.1A, and 14.4

NOTICE

Please be advised – New Orphans’ Court Local Rules, now available.Click Here.

NOTICE

Passage of Act 61 – Establishing a Right to Counsel in All Guardianship Proceedings

NOTICE

The Revised Manual for Guardians of Incapacitated Persons is available containing information on Guardian Fiduciary Duties and the Guardianship Tracking System (GTS), as well as the new fillable forms for Inventory, Annual Reports, Consent of Guardian, Guardian Address Confirmation, and Notice of Filing.Click Here

The Seal of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

The Orphans' Court Division is one of the three divisions of the Court of Common Pleas, and serves to protect the personal and property rights of all persons and entities who are otherwise incapable of managing their own affairs. The name "Orphans' " in the name of the Court is derived from the general definition of "orphan" as one lacking protection, not the common association of a child deprived by the death of his or her parents. It is the Court's mission to ensure that the best interests of those persons and entities, who are "Orphans' " in the general sense of the word, are not compromised.

Currently assigned to the Orphans' Court Division are Administrative Judge Sheila Woods-Skipper, Judge Stella M. Tsai, Judge Ramy I Djerassi and Senior Judge George W. Overton.

The Court's jurisdiction extends to minors, incapacitated persons, decedents, trusts, principals and agents under powers of attorney, non-profit charitable organizations, cemetery companies, inalienable property and marriage licenses. The Court appoints guardians for minors and incapacitated persons to handle their financial affairs and/or their health and safety needs. The actions and accounts of fiduciaries, including guardians, agents under powers of attorney, executors, administrators, and trustees are examined and audited. The Court hears disputes involving inheritance and estate tax and marriage license issues. Questions regarding the administration and distribution of the decedents', minors' and incapacitated persons' estates, testamentary and inter vivos trusts, special needs trusts, non-profit corporations organized for charitable purposes, as well as Appeals from the Register of Wills are adjudicated and resolved. Settlements of actions involving minors, incapacitated persons, decedent's estates and wrongful death and survival beneficiaries are reviewed. Authorizations to act as an approved corporate fiduciary are issued by the Court.

The Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of PA has been amended effective January 1, 2022. The Policy can be foundhere.

Questions concerning the Policy and how documents must be filed via the Electronic Filing System should be directed to the Clerk of Orphans' Court.
Phone: (215)686-2230
Email:ocsupport@courts.phila.govv

Relevant Forms and Helpful Links:

Philadelphians can take pride in the fact that Orphans' Courts have been held in this City since 1683. They can further take pride in the able and distinguished jurists who have sat as Judges of those Courts. The current Judges of this Division continue a long and illustrious tradition.

King Charles II granted the province of Pennsylvania to William Penn by Royal Charter dated March 4, 1681. William Penn came to Pennsylvania in October of 1682 and called a General Assembly. See Section 1, pages 11-12 of The Pennsylvania Manual, Volume 112 (December, 1995) Sitting at Chester, on December 7, 1682, the first General Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania enacted the 77th Law which provided that the justices of each County Court should sit, "....to inspect and take care of the estates, usage, and employment of Orphans' , which shall be called the Orphans' Court * * * That care may be taken for those, that are not able to take care for themselves." See Opinion by Trimble, P.J., in Harton's Estate (No. 2), 86 P.L.J. 18, at page 21 (1938). "It is probable, that both the name and jurisdiction of this court were borrowed from the Court of Orphans' of the city of London, which had the care and guardianship of children of deceased citizens of London, in their minority, and could compel executors to file inventories, and give security for their estates." See Opinion by Justice Sergeant in the matter of Wimmer's Appeal, 1 Wh. 95, 101 (1835).

The Orphans' Court of Philadelphia County was organized as a separate court of record under the Constitution of 1874, on January 4, 1875, and consisted of three judges. Three more judges were added, one each, in 1887, 1907 and 1927. Judge Allen M. Stearne and Judge Grover C. Ladner rose to become Justices of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Judge Charles Klein was appointed to the Court on December 24, 1934, and, became President Judge on January 14, 1952. Judge Klein served as the last President Judge of the Orphans' Court of Philadelphia County, and, the first Administrative Judge of the Orphans' Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County. By constitutional amendment, effective January 1, 1969, the separate Orphans' Court of Philadelphia County was abolished and became the Orphans' Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County.

From January 4, 1875 to January 1, 1969, the following Judges sat on the Orphans' Court of Philadelphia County:

William B. HannaDennis W. O'BrienT. Bradford Dwight
William N. AshmanClement B. PenroseJoseph C. Ferguson
Morris DallettJoseph F. LamorelleEdward A. Anderson
Charles Francis GummeyJohn Marshall GestGeorge Henderson
Henry C. Thompson, Jr.Lewis H. Van DusenAllen M. Stearne
Charles SinklerCharles KleinCurtis Bok
Robert V. BolgerGrover C. LadnerDavid G. Hunter
John P. BolandMark E. LefeverHarold D. Saylor
Kendall H. ShoyerJoseph D. Burke 

On January 1, 1969, the Orphans' Court of Philadelphia became a division of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. Since the merger, the following Judges have sat in the Orphans' Court Division of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas:

Charles KleinRobert V. BolgerMark E. Lefever
Harold D. SaylorKendall H. ShoyerJoseph D. Burke
Edmund S. PawelecPaul SilversteinTheodore S. Gutowicz
Joseph C. BrunoJudith JamisonAlex Bonavitacola
Theodore A. McKeeKathryn S. LewisFrank X. O'Brien
Levan GordonPetrese B. TuckerAnne E. Lazarus
Joseph D. O'KeefeLynn B. HamlinJohn W. Herron
Matthew D. CarrafielloGeorge W. OvertonSheila Woods-Skipper
Stella M. TsaiRamy I Djerassi

The history of the position of Administrative Judge of the Orphans' Court Division is as follows:

Judge Edmund S. PawelecJanuary 5, 1976 - July 1, 1992

Judge Kathryn S. LewisJuly 1, 1992 - April 1, 1996

Judge Petrese B. TuckerApril 1, 1996 - July 14, 2000

Judge Alex Bonavitacola*July 14, 2000 - December 22, 2000

Judge Joseph D. O'KeefeDecember 22, 2000 - December 31, 2014

Judge Matthew D. CarrafielloJanuary 5, 2015 - November 1, 2020

Judge Sheila Woods-SkipperNovember 2, 2020 - Present

*Judge Bonavitacola, as President Judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, assumed a"Supervisory" role over the Orphans' Court until Judge O'Keefe was named as successor to Judge Tucker.

The Register of Wills of Philadelphia County is the ex officio Clerk of the Orphans' Court which maintains and certifies Orphans' Court records, issues citations, marriage licenses and other process.

Location
City Hall, Room 415
Philadelphia, PA 19107

For Questions Concerning Electronic Filing or To Report Electronic Filing Problems, please contact us via email at:ocsupport@courts.phila.gov

Contact Information
For general filing information please call:
(215) 686-2230
(215) 686-2231
(215) 686-2232

John P. Sabatina, Esq,Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court

For information on the viewing of records or purchasing copies of records please call:
(215) 686-2219
(215) 686-2234

ForMarriage License information concerning application requirements and fees please call:
(215) 686-2233
(215) 686-2243
(215) 686-7285

TheSupreme Court forms available below replace former Philadelphia County forms and can be filled in on-line and saved by the user if Acrobat Adobe Professional or similar software is utilized.

Audit and Administration Forms (effective Jan. 1, 2020)

Guardianship (effective June 1, 2019)

Incapacitated Person's Proceeding - Philadelphia County

Forms for Court Appointed Counsel

Guardian’s Manual

Pennsylvania Guardian Handbook

GTS Help Desk

Office of the Administrative Judge

The Administrative Judge of the Court of Common Pleas Orphans' Court Division, Honorable Sheila Woods-Skipper

ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS - ORPHANS' COURT DIVISION

Honorable Sheila Woods-Skipper

The Orphans' Court Division is led by an Administrative Judge, who is appointed by theSupreme Court of Pennsylvania and serves at the pleasure of the Supreme Court. Judge Sheila Woods-Skipper is the appointed Administrative Judge. As Administrative Judge, she is the approving authority for all administrative matters associated with the Orphans' Court Division.

For general Court information, contact (215) 686-7000.

Contact

Business Hours

  • Monday-Friday: 8am to 4:30pm
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The First Judicial District (FJD) of Pennsylvania is composed of two courts which make up the Philadelphia County Court System: the Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court.

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