Section 22. Separate orphans’ courts; register of wills to be clerk thereof; accounts therein to be audited by courts

Separate orphans’ courts; register of wills to be clerk thereof; accounts therein to be audited by courts

Separate orphans’ courts; register of wills to be clerk thereof; accounts therein to be audited by courts

In every county wherein the population shall exceed one hundred and fifty thousand the General Assembly shall, and in any other county may, establish a separate Orphans’ Court to consist of one or more judges who shall be learned in the law, which court shall exercise all the jurisdiction and powers now vested in or which may hereafter by conferred upon, the Orphans’ courts, and thereupon the jurisdiction of the judges of the court of Common Pleas within such county, in Orphans’ court proceedings, shall cease and determine. In any county in which a separate Orphans’ Court shall be established, the register of wills shall be clerk of such court and subject to its directions in all matters pertaining to his office; he may appoint assistant clerks, but only with consent and approval of said court. All accounts filed with him as register or as clerk of the said separate Orphans’ Court shall be audited by the court without expense to parties, except where all parties in interest in a pending proceeding shall nominate an auditor whom the court may, in its discretion appoint. In every county Orphans’ courts shall possess all the powers and jurisdiction of a Registers’ court, and separate Registers’ courts are hereby abolished.