Daily AncestorOrphans' court
An orphans' court is a probate court; the name, still used in Pennsylvania and Maryland, handled estates, wills and guardianships.
Orphans' court is the historical name for the probate court in some states, especially Pennsylvania and Maryland, where it is still used. It dealt with estates, guardians and the property of minors.
The name reflects the older idea that children whose father had died were orphans, even with a living mother. Its records include partitions of land, guardian accounts and petitions naming heirs.
As seen in a recordCounty probate court record, 1800s
Orphans' Court of Lancaster County: petition of the children of Jacob Hess decd. for partition.
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Daily Ancestor. "Orphans' court." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/legal-land/orphans-court. Last checked 2026-10-01.