PHILLY-ROOTS-L Archives

From: Robert M Lightcap <>
Subject: Re: [PHLY-RTS] Wills
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2003 10:59:44 -0500
In-Reply-To: <13.190e3391.2b94bb89@aol.com>

Evelyn,

The following info on obtaining a will was originally provided through the kindness of Lani.

Bob Lightcap-in Florida

WILLS & ADMINISTRATIONS (PHILA. CITY & CO.)
From 1682 to the present are available through: Register of Wills, Main
Office, City Hall, Room 180, Phila., PA 19107; early ones are at the Archives
for the Register of Wills at 3101 Market St. (same bldg. as the City Archives
but not the same office; be aware that the Archives for the Register of Wills
closes at 3:00pm).
First visit the Index Room in City Hall to get all the numbers (Book,
page, file and year) for the particular Will: Register of Wills, Index Room,
City Hall, Room 185, Phila., PA. 19107. When you search the indexes be sure
to write down BOTH the reference # to the original will (e.g., file #124 of
1798) AND the reference to the books (e.g., Book H on page 435) -- you must
have the file number and year to order a copy of the will and file contents.
If they don't find the actual Will/Admin folder you can still find some
information by using the transcriptions in the Will/Admin. books. These
books are scattered between the Archives and City Hall (and some are lost
forever).
Charge for copies is $2 per page at the Archives if you go in person.
For mail-in requests, $15 PLUS the $2 per page charge. Mail-in requests
should be sent to the first address given above. They'll send you a bill for
the balance of the copying fee (since you don't yet know how many pages are
in the file) and will hold the copies until your payment for them is
received, but you must initially send the $15 service fee and $2 for the
first page when ordering or they won't process your request. Send a LARGE
self-addressed stamped envelope, for faster service.
If you want all the papers with the File No., make sure you tell them
that. Otherwise, if you just say to send a copy of the Will, they will send
only a copy of the Will but not the Letters, Petitions, Inventory, or other
papers that may be filed with it.

-------------------------Evelyn wrote-----------------------------

>Can someone tell me how to contact the Wills Room in Philadelphia City Hall?
>I want to request a copy of a will. I do have info re: exact Will Book etc.
>Thanks, Evelyn
>
>
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