The family of the late Joe Paterno made its formal request in Centre County court on Friday to unseal the estate records of the former Penn State football coach.

The records have been filed under seal since June 26, 1997.

Earlier this month, the Paterno family released the will to the media as “an effort to ensure maximum transparency and eliminate unfounded speculation,” a family spokesman said at the time.

The filing Friday morning in the Orphans’ Court division of Centre County’s Court of Common Pleas is a procedural step to make the will public, said family spokesman Dan McGinn. The request will be assigned to Judge Jonathan Grine.

Sue Paterno will inherit all of her late husband’s property, according to the will.

Earlier this month, McGinn said filing the will under seal was consistent with “actions of other prominent individuals” and that “the only objective was to preserve a measure of privacy for Sue Paterno, their five children, 17 grandchildren and other family members.”

The will was opened two months ago to begin the settlement process, said Kim Barton, the county’s clerk of Orphans’ Court.

Paterno died at Mount Nittany Medical Center on Jan. 22 from lung cancer.

Mike Dawson can be reached at 231-4616. Follow him on Twitter @MikeDawsonCDT