Book Description

In Pennsylvania, the Orphans' Court in each county had jurisdiction to approve the settlement of estates and sale of real estate of decedents and to discharge the executors and administrators from their duties once the estate was settled ... The Orphans' Court was also responsible for partitioning the real estate of intestate decedents and for appointing guardians of minors and subsequently overseeing the settlement of the guardian's accounts. These latter transactions tend to provide the greatest genealogical information since they generally contain complete information about the heirs of the decedent and the ages of birthdates of any children who were minors ..."