In response to the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration and closure of the York County Judicial Center to the public, the York County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court created video conferencing processes for virtual marriage license applications and probate of wills and estates, according to Bryan Tate, York County register of wills and clerk of orphans' court. The video conferencing virtual processes began on March 30.
According to Tate, the office is using the Cisco Webex Meeting platform. The wills and estates probate process will be administered by Kim McPherson, chief deputy register of wills, and the marriage license process will be administered by Becky Foust, chief deputy clerk of the Orphans' Court.
On March 27, the office tested the new video conferencing processes. Tate and Foust held a video conference meeting with Brittany King and Brian Ishler, both of Dillsburg, to process their marriage license application. During the video conference meeting, Tate and Foust witnessed King and Ishler signing their marriage license application virtually and granted the license, which is being mailed to the couple. According to Tate, King and Ishler received York County's first marriage license that was processed virtually.
Also on March 21, the office probated its first will using video conference technology. Tate and McPherson met electronically with attorney MacGregor Brillhart of Stock and Leader LLC and his client James Norton. Norton was sworn in and was able to probate the will of his late mother. Norton was granted letters testamentary as the executor of his mother's will. Norton's mother's will was York County's first to be probated virtually, Tate said.
To schedule virtual appointments, readers may visit http://www.YorkCountyPA.gov/RegisterOfWills for wills and estates and http://www.YorkCountyPA.gov/ClerkOfOrphansCourt for marriage licenses. Attorneys and residents who have questions may contact 717-771-9607 for wills and estates and 717-771-9288 for marriage licenses.
Leave a Review