Jenkintown resident vying for Montgomery County Register of Wills

At least three Democrats have thrown their hats in the ring for the elected position of Montgomery County Register of Wills. Long-serving Register of Wills Bruce Hanes is not seeking re-election.

Hilary Fuelleborn of Jenkintown has been an attorney for 16 years and practices estate and elder law. She has experience within the county as she has served as the solicitor for the Office of Prothonotary of Montgomery County. In her campaign announcement letter, Fuelleborn wrote, “The Montgomery County Register of Wills is extremely important, as the Register controls the probate process for all of Montgomery County, acts as the clerk for the Orphans’ Court, and issues marriage licenses. It is imperative that the Register of Wills continue (as it has for many years) to be an attorney that understands the probate process and the unique procedures of Orphans’ Court.”

Andy Gavrin is an estate planning attorney based in Villanova. He is currently the vice president of the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners. He was first elected in 2017 and was re-elected in 2021. On his Facebook page, he wristes that he is “driven by service to his community, and is running for the position of the Montgomery County Register of Wills to help educate the public and make the probate process more accessible to everyone, especially those who don’t have the ability to afford legal support.”

Yaniv Aronson, the only non-lawyer among the group, is currently serving his second term as mayor of Conshohocken. On his website, he shared, “Serving as the Montgomery County Register of Wills will allow me to further my mission of building community. I look forward to continuing the office’s mission of customer service, ensuring that all residents feel welcomed, heard, and that their needs are met.”

If Gavrin or Aronson were to win, they would not have to resign from their current elected positions. For example, the current mayor of Ambler also holds the elected position of Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds.

We have not yet seen any Republicans make an announcement for this position. The primary election will be held in May of 2023 and the general election is scheduled for November 7, 2023.

Photos: Fuelleborn from Linkedin. Gavrin from Facebook. Aronson from candidate’s website