Franklin County, Pennsylvania Court Filing
Fee Lookup

Franklin County, Pennsylvania — home to approximately 155,951 residents and a mid-ranked jurisdiction among Pennsylvania's 67 counties — handles court filings through the Franklin County Orphans' Court in Chambersburg. Pennsylvania's court structure (Court of Common Pleas (civil/family/orphans') / Magisterial District Court (small claims)) determines which courthouse accepts which case types and what fees apply.

For residents of Franklin County, the filing fee amounts depend on both the state's statutory schedule and any local surcharges added by the county.

Franklin County is a significant urban center in Pennsylvania with an active economy that generates substantial court filing activity across all case types. Confirming the current fee schedule with the clerk's office is recommended, as fees can change when new state legislation takes effect or when the county updates its local surcharge schedule.

• Filing fees in Franklin County are based on Pennsylvania's statutory schedule, which applies statewide, plus any local surcharges assessed by the county. For reference, the statewide base fees by case type are: probate and estate filings — $50–$150 (Orphans' Court Division — varies by county)
• civil complaints and appearances — $200–$350 (Court of Common Pleas) / $60–$100 (Magisterial District Court)
• family law matters (divorce, custody, support) — $200–$350 (Court of Common Pleas — Family Division)
• small claims filings — $60–$100 (Magisterial District Court). These figures represent the state-level base
• the total amount due at the Franklin County Orphans' Court in Chambersburg may include additional local charges.

• Franklin County falls in the mid-range of Pennsylvania jurisdictions by population, and its local surcharges typically reflect that scale.
• The clerk's office at the Franklin County Orphans' Court in Chambersburg can confirm whether any local assessments apply beyond the state statutory base fee.

• Beyond the initial filing fee, Franklin County litigants and estate administrators should budget for recurring court costs throughout the proceeding: fees for filing subsequent motions and responses, charges for certified copies of letters testamentary or court orders (typically $5 to $25 per document in Pennsylvania), jury demand deposits in civil cases, and in probate matters, fees associated with filing the inventory, accountings, and petition for discharge.
• For a complete picture of expected court costs in Franklin County, request the full fee schedule from the Franklin County Orphans' Court clerk in Chambersburg before initiating the proceeding.

Pennsylvania has been expanding electronic filing (e-filing) capabilities across its court system. Franklin County is among the jurisdictions where e-filing is more established.

For this major county, the Franklin County Orphans' Court in Chambersburg likely participates in the state's e-filing system, and represented parties in civil and family matters may be required to file electronically. Contact the Franklin County Orphans' Court clerk directly to confirm the current e-filing requirements for your specific case type.

When e-filing is available in Franklin County, the system charges a convenience fee per transaction — typically $2 to $8 — in addition to the applicable statutory court fees. This convenience fee is charged by the e-filing service provider rather than the court itself and is generally non-waivable even for litigants who have received a court fee waiver.

Self-represented litigants (pro se filers) are often exempt from mandatory e-filing requirements and may file in paper at the Franklin County Orphans' Court clerk's window in Chambersburg during regular business hours.

For probate and estate matters in Franklin County, e-filing availability may differ from civil cases. Some Pennsylvania probate courts have been slower to adopt e-filing given the document-intensive nature of estate proceedings — original wills, certified death certificates, and original deeds often require in-person or mail submission regardless of whether other case types accept electronic filing.

Verify with the Franklin County Orphans' Court in Chambersburg which documents can be e-filed and which require physical originals before planning your filing strategy.

• Franklin County residents who cannot afford court filing fees may apply for a fee waiver under Pa.
• R.C.P.
• No.
• 240.
• To apply, file a declaration of financial condition with the Franklin County Orphans' Court clerk's office in Chambersburg at the time of your initial filing.
• The declaration lists all household income sources, monthly expenses, assets, and liabilities.
• A judge or court commissioner reviews the application and issues an order granting or denying the waiver, typically within a few days of submission.

• Eligibility for a fee waiver in Franklin County generally requires that household income fall at or below 125% to 200% of the federal poverty level, or that the applicant is receiving qualifying public benefits — commonly Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or public housing assistance.
• The specific income thresholds and qualifying programs are defined in Pa.
• R.C.P.
• No.
• 240 and may have been updated by recent legislation.
• Ask the Franklin County Orphans' Court clerk in Chambersburg for the current income guidelines before completing your declaration.

• A granted fee waiver covers filing fees charged by the Franklin County Orphans' Court — including initial filing fees and subsequent filings in the same case — but does not cover costs owed to third parties.
• In Franklin County probate proceedings, a fee waiver does not eliminate the cost of publishing a notice to creditors in a newspaper of general circulation (a statutory requirement in most states), service of process fees paid to process servers or the sheriff's office, or costs for court-ordered appraisals.
• Budget for these additional costs separately even when a fee waiver is in effect.