Does every estate that is opened have to involve the Orphans’ Court?
If there is a dispute involving the estate, Orphans’ Court judges conduct hearings to resolve that dispute. Orphans’ Court judges also are responsible for approving Administration Accounts required in regular estate proceedings and (except for limited situations) acting on Petitions requesting payment for Personal Representative’s Commissions and/or Attorney’s Fees. However, if there are no disputes requiring a hearing before the Orphans’ Court, the Personal Representative and beneficiaries (or heirs) may have no direct contact with the Orphans’ Court judges.
