Archive Record
Metadata
Title of Record Series |
Bond Books (Intestate Letters of Administration) |
Year Range from |
1753 |
Year Range to |
1970 |
Collection/Office |
Register of Wills |
Catalog Number |
WO-3 |
Description |
Documents filed for the estate administration of an individual that died intestate (without a will). Records provide name of administrator, name of decedent, residence of decedent, date & time of death, and signature of administrator. |
Finding Aids |
Intestate Index (1729-1928) available on the archives website: www.co.lancaster.pa.us/archivesdivision |
Admin/Biographical History |
During the eighteenth century the Prothonotary served as clerk of all courts fulfilling the role of orphan's court and register of wills. In 1821, each of these offices was entirely separated. The Orphan's Court was held by the judges of the court of common pleas until 1901 in Lancaster. In Lancaster County the Register of Wills also serves as the Clerk of the Orphan's Court. The duties of the Register of Wills include admitting wills to probate, granting letters of testamentary, issuing marriage licenses, collecting inheritance taxes, maintaining records relating to adoptions and recording documents relating to estates. Original and recorded copies of wills have been kept in Lancaster County since its formation in 1729. Original wills are some of the oldest and most fragile documents within the archives. |