Legal Help
Register of Wills Title Clearance Unit (TCU)
Verified · October 23, 2026 Deadline soon — check dates
If you live in a home and consider yourself the homeowner, but your name is not on the deed, you may have a tangled title, often because you inherited property from a relative who died without a will or before probate was complete. The Register of Wills’ Title Clearance Unit helps qualified residents navigate the probate process and transfer the titles of their properties, using the information you provide to research and identify the issues that affect your home’s title. The unit can only guide residents and provide resources; it is not a replacement for legal advice.
- Organization
- City of Philadelphia Register of Wills
- Address
- City Hall, Room 183
- Hours
- Walk-ins: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (the program page does not state the days)
- Who qualifies
- Qualified residents with a tangled title: you live in the home and consider yourself the homeowner, but your name is not on the deed. The unit reviews the information you provide, confirms whether you are qualified, and starts researching your case.
- Income limits
- No income limit is stated on the program page; to confirm that you are eligible for help, you must provide two forms of proof of income.
- Documents needed
- To confirm eligibility: a valid form of government ID, and two forms of proof of income, which may include consecutive paystubs, bank statements, tax returns, or proof of SSA, SSDI, SSI, or unemployment compensation. It is also helpful to have a death certificate and date of death for the deceased person, a birth certificate for the person who will become the administrator or executor of the estate, and the decedent's will or other probate documents if an estate was opened. The unit can advise on how to get these documents if you do not have them.
- How to apply
- Complete the online intake form, which will gather information about you, the deceased relative, and the property and takes around 30 minutes to complete. Alternatively, call 215-686-6262 or use the printable intake form and visit in person; walk-ins are accepted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at City Hall, Room 183, Philadelphia, PA 19107. After you apply, the unit will review your information and follow up with you. It can help determine whether the deceased person had a will and assist with preparing probate documents, search for lost or unknown relatives who may be heirs, locate property records and identify title owners, assist with deed preparation for modest cases, and identify liens, delinquent taxes, property judgments, mortgages, or licenses and inspections violations affecting the property.
- Cost
- Deed recording fees will be waived for qualified residents; no other cost is stated on the program page.
- Last verified
- October 23, 2026
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