Philadelphia County Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Form
Last validated June 11, 2026 by our Forms Development Team
Philadelphia County Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Form
Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.

Philadelphia County Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Guide
Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Philadelphia County Completed Example of the Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Document
Example of a properly completed form for reference.
All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees
Immediate Download • Secure Checkout
Additional Pennsylvania and Philadelphia County documents included at no extra charge:
Where to Record Your Documents
Records Dept - Recording Div
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129
Hours: 8:00 to 2:00 M-F
Phone: (215) 686-2260
Recording Tips for Philadelphia County:
- Ensure all signatures are in blue or black ink
- Check that your notary's commission hasn't expired
- Check margin requirements - usually 1-2 inches at top
- Leave recording info boxes blank - the office fills these
Cities and Jurisdictions in Philadelphia County
Properties in any of these areas use Philadelphia County forms:
- Philadelphia
Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Philadelphia County
How do I get my forms?
Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Philadelphia County forms will be in your account ready to download to your computer. An account is created for you during checkout if you don't have one. Forms are NOT emailed.
Are these forms guaranteed to be recordable in Philadelphia County?
Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in Philadelphia County, including margin requirements, font requirements, and other layout standards. This guarantee applies to formatting, not to the legal sufficiency of information entered by the user or the suitability of a form for a particular transaction.
Can I reuse these forms?
Yes. You can reuse the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have multiple properties in Philadelphia County you only need to order once.
What do I need to use these forms?
The forms are PDFs that you fill out on your computer. You'll need Adobe Reader (free software that most computers already have). You do NOT enter your property information online - you download the blank forms and complete them privately on your own computer.
Are there any recurring fees?
No. This is a one-time purchase. Nothing to cancel, no memberships, no recurring fees.
How much does it cost to record in Philadelphia County?
Recording fees in Philadelphia County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (215) 686-2260 for current fees.
Questions answered? Let's get started!
Using an Affidavit of Surviving Spouse or Life Partner in Pennsylvania
The manner of vesting, or the way owners hold title to real property, determines what will happen to that property in the event of their death.
The three options available to co-owners vesting residential real property in Pennsylvania are tenancy in common, joint tenancy, and tenancy by the entirety. A tenancy in common and a joint tenancy are available to two or more owners, whereas a tenancy by the entirety is available only to married couples.
When co-owners vest as tenants in common, each one owns a separate share of the title. A joint tenancy with the right of survivorship means that, upon the death of one joint tenant, the deceased's interest in the property is proportionately distributed to the remaining joint tenants, thus avoiding probate. In tenancy by entirety, both spouses share 100% undivided ownership of the property. Similar to joint tenancy, when the first spouse dies, his or her interest in the property ceases, meaning the surviving spouse becomes the sole owner.
Pennsylvania property held in either a joint tenancy or a tenancy by the entirety vests automatically in the survivor(s) upon the death of an owner. This means that a deed is not required to transfer the decedent's interest. Rather, an affidavit of surviving spouse or life partner may be recorded in the office of the recorder in the appropriate county evidencing the surviving spouse's right to the decedent's interest. Such a document helps to maintain a clear chain of title (ownership history) and may be useful in future title searches.
Affidavits must meet standards for recording in the state of Pennsylvania as well as the requirements for affidavits pertaining to interest in real property as established by 21 P.S. 453, and requires the name, address, and age of the affiant, as well as a legal description of the real property concerned. Further, it states that the affiant was either the legal spouse or life partner of the decedent, and indicates that the supporting documentation -- the death certificate of the decedent and either a marriage license or a certificate of life partnership -- are authorized copies. The affiant makes the sworn statements contained within the affidavit in the presence of a notary public, declaring that they are true, correct, and complete to the best of his or her knowledge.
Each case is unique, so consult a lawyer with questions.
(Pennsylvania AOSS Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)
Important: Your property must be located in Philadelphia County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.
This Affidavit of Surviving Spouse meets all recording requirements specific to Philadelphia County.
Our Promise
The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable Philadelphia County recording format requirements. If there is a rejection caused by our formatting, we will correct the issue or refund your payment. This guarantee applies to document formatting only and does not extend to information entered by the user, the selection of the form, or the legal effect of the completed document.
Save Time and Money
Get your Philadelphia County Affidavit of Surviving Spouse form done right the first time with Deeds.com Uniform Conveyancing Blanks. At Deeds.com, we understand that your time and money are valuable resources, and we don't want you to face a penalty fee or rejection imposed by a county recorder for submitting nonstandard documents. We constantly review and update our forms to meet rapidly changing state and county recording requirements for roughly 3,500 counties and local jurisdictions.
4.8 out of 5 - ( 4746 Reviews )
Xochitl B.
November 30th, 2021
Excellent website, thanks so much.
Thank you!
Sandra M.
November 17th, 2019
The forms were easy to use but there was a software issue that made it impossible to get the county name to appear on the form in the correct place. It made the deed look a little sloppy
Thank you!
Darrell D.
June 6th, 2023
Thx. Easy to research and download. Now proof is in the pudding. :-)
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
diana c.
February 24th, 2022
quick and easy, thankyou
Thank you!
Richard D.
January 18th, 2019
We are pleased with your service. It is user friendly and efficient,
Thank you!
Virginia M.
August 26th, 2020
This was the easiest web page ive ever navigated .Found just what i needed fast !
Thank you!
james h.
June 15th, 2020
Service was quick and easy to use. I got not only the necessary forms, but instructions and sample forms filled out. Highly recommended.
Thank you!
Richard G.
March 17th, 2023
Easy to use. I was able to find out what I needed quickly and was able to download the information necessary.
Thank you!
Donnajean L.
October 9th, 2024
The site is user friendly and uncomplicated.
Thank you!
Phyllis A.
January 25th, 2023
The turnaround was excellent. The lady I spoke with was a great help and returned my document very quickly.
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Carrie A.
September 28th, 2020
Great service fast and easy.
Thank you!
Robert K.
August 1st, 2020
I used your TOD document to deed my home to my daughter. Your sample document was very helpful. I had to do it a few times but finally got it right. I didn't check but It was surely cheaper than a lawyer fee.
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Woody P.
August 28th, 2021
I was informed that a quit Claim Deed that I had submitted, did not meet county requirements. I ordered the correct form and was surprised that the form included instructions and a sample "completed" form for me to follow. I found it al very helpful. Thank you !!!
Thank you!
Martha R.
March 16th, 2023
Provided all the info that I needed.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
David A.
May 3rd, 2022
Forms were just what I needed. Very well explained and easy to use.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!