Clerk of Orphans' Court

NO CELL PHONES, PAGERS, WEAPONS, OR CAMERAS ARE PERMITTED IN THE YORK COUNTY JUDICIAL CENTER

The Clerk of Orphans’ Court is an elected official who serves as Clerk of Orphans’ Court and Register of Wills. The responsibilities of the Clerk of the Orphans' Court include the maintaining of dockets and files for petitions for incapacitated persons, appointment of guardians, adoptions (which records are confidential) and any other issues which may come before the Orphans' Court Division. The Clerk of the Orphans' Court is also responsible for assisting the Judge of the Orphans' Court during Court proceedings as well as preparing and maintaining documents pertaining to those proceedings. The Clerk's office is also responsible for taking applications for, and issuing, marriage licenses. Birth and death records from 1893 through 1906 are maintained by the Clerk of the Orphans' Court in the County Archives Department. Birth and death records of individuals born after 1906 are kept on file with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, 101 South Mercer Street, P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, Pennsylvania 16101.

The Clerk of Orphans’ Court is located on the second floor of the York County Judicial Center, 45 N. George Street York, PA 17401 and may be reached at 717-771-9288. Office hours are 8:00A.M to 4:30PM.

Customer Counter is open 8:00 AM - 4:15 PM for Application and Issuance of Marriage Licenses.

I. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

*MARRIAGE LICENSE INFORMATION AND OFFICIANT DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

*DISTRICT MAGISTRATES, MAYORS AND RETIRED MAYORS Adobe Acrobat Reader Needed To View/Print

*HOW DO I ACQUIRE A CERTIFIED COPY OF MY MARRIAGE LICENSE?

*ORPHANS COURT FEE SCHEDULE Adobe Acrobat Reader Needed To View/Print

*BIRTH AND DEATH CERTIFICATE INFORMATION Adobe Acrobat Reader Needed To View

*Court Calendar 2012-Orphans Court Division Adobe Acrobat Reader Needed To View/Print

*Orphans' Court Current Business Adoptions and Petitions for the Settlement of Small Estates

*Other Links

II. YORK COUNTY ORPHANS' COURT RULES Adobe Acrobat Reader Needed To View

December 30, 2010 Administrative Order Amending York County Local Orphans' Court Rules Adobe Acrobat Reader Needed To View

III. ADOPTIONS

Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption & Permanency Network

A. ACT 101 of 2010 (effective 4/25/2011)

* Office of Children, Youth and Families Bulletin PDF

3350-11-01 (with Appendices) Date 4/22/2011

* Appendix B - Voluntary Post-Adoptions Word

* Appendix K - Adoption Non-Indentifying or Indentifying Information PDF

* Example Agreement Word

B. ADOPTION FORMS

The Following forms are in Adobe Acrobat or Word format.

Choose the format you want beside the name of the form.

Adoption Check List PDF

Report of Intention to Adopt PDF

Petition for Adoption PDF | Word

Adult Adoptee Name Change Application PDF | Word

Decree of Adoption PDF

Petition to Confirm Consent to Adoption PDF

Decree Confirming Consent to Adoption PDF

Consent by Parent of Adoptee With Notice PDF

Petition for Involuntary Term. of Parental Rights PDF

Decree of Involuntary Term. of Parental Rights PDF

Certification of Acknowledgment of Paternity PDF | Word

C. PETITION TO REGISTER FOREIGN DECREE PURSUANT TO 23 PA.C.S. § 2908 (PA.O.C. RULE 15.8) ( Link to AOPC website)

[Note: Petitioner(s) must review and complete all the following forms]

Adobe Acrobat Reader Needed To View/Print

Filing Instructions

Petition to Register Foreign Adoption Decree

Final Decree Denied

Final Decree Granted

Division of Vital Records Form No. HD01273F (Certificate of Adoption of a Foreign-Born Child) PDF

Division of Vital Records Form No. HD01275F (Statement of Citizenship and Residency) PDF

D. FOREIGN ADOPTION OF A FOREIGN BORN CHILD 23 PA.C.S. § 2908E (PA.O.C. RULE 15.9) ( Link to AOPC website)

[Note: See Pa.O.C. Rule 15.9 about what documents must be filed, and in what order]

Pa.O.C. Rule 15.9

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Preliminary Decree

Final Decree

Petition for Adoption of a Foreign Born Child

Report of the Intermediary

Verification of Translator

Division of Vital Records Form No. HD01273F (Certificate of Adoption of a Foreign-Born Child) PDF

Division of Vital Records Form No. HD01275F (Statement of Citizenship and Residency) PDF

U.S. Government Form N-560 (Certificate of Citizenship)

IV. AUDIT ADMINISTRATION ( Link to AOPC website)

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Guide for Filing Petition for Adjudication & First and Final Accounts

OC - 01 - Petition for Adjudication - Decedent's Estate

OC - 02 - Petition for Adjudication - Trust

OC - 03 - Petition for Adjudication - Guardian of Estate of Incapacitated Person

OC - 04 - Petition for Adjudication - Guardian of Estate of Minor

OC - 05 - Petition for Adjudication - Principal's Estate ( Under Power of Attorney )

OC - 06 - Notice of Charitable Gift ( In Accordance with Pa. O. C. Rule 5.5 )

OC - 07 - Notice of Claim ( Filed Pursuant to 20 Pa. C. S. 3532 )

Notice of Account PDF | Word

V. PETITION FOR SETTLEMENT OF SMALL ESTATE PDF | Word

VI. GUARDIANSHIP FORMS ( Link to AOPC website)

GUIDELINES FOR GUARDIANS PDF

Petition for Adjudication of Incapacity and Appointment of Guardian PDF

**Notification of Mental Health PDF | Word

**Must be included with Petition for Adjudication of Incapacity and Appointment of Guardian

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G - 01 - Important Notice: Citation with Notice ( Pa. O. C. Rule 14.5 )

G - 02 - Annual Report - Guardian of Estate

G - 03 - Annual Report - Guardian of Person

G - 04 - Guardian's Inventory

VII. PETITION FOR MINOR ESTATE

Petition for Appointment of Guardian of Minor's Estate PDF

G - 04 - Guardian's Inventory

VIII. SUBPOENA PDF | Word

IX. APPLICATION FOR CONTINUANCE PDF | Word

X. ABORTION CONTROL ACT FORMS ( Link to AOPC website)

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ACA - 01 - Minor's Application for Judicial Authorization of an Abortion ( Pa. O. C. Rule 16-10 )

ACA - 02 - Confidential Unsworn Verification by a Minor ( Pa. O. C. Rule 16-10)

XI. MODEL FORMS OF ACCOUNT ( Link to AOPC website)

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National Fiduciary Accounting Standards Project - 1983 Report of Fiduciary Accounting Standards Committee

Model Estate Account

Model Trust Account

Model Charitable Remainder Unitrust Account