New York Probate Guide
County-specific probate court contacts, filing fees, required forms, and step-by-step estate settlement guidance for executors in New York.
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New York Probate Guides
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New York Probate Guide
New York probate guide covering Surrogate's Court, probate with a will, administration with no will, voluntary administration, filing fees, and first steps.
How to Avoid Probate in New York
How to avoid probate in New York with beneficiary designations, survivorship title, living trusts, transfer-on-death deeds, and small-estate checks.
New York Probate Timeline
New York probate timeline guide covering Surrogate's Court filing, letters, creditor claims, estate tax timing, accounting, and small-estate timing.
New York Executor Duties Guide
New York executor duties guide covering letters testamentary, asset control, creditor claims, tax timing, accounting, commissions, and distribution safeguards.
Letters Testamentary New York Guide
Letters testamentary New York guide explaining what court letters do, how probate connects to executor authority, forms, eligibility, and related estate letters.
New York Administration No Will Guide
New York administration no will guide covering letters of administration, who can file, forms, costs, distributees, and first steps in Surrogate's Court.
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Jump to court, executor, tax, planning, property, and probate-avoidance guides that match your next task.
Probate Basics
2Forms & Court
4Executor Duties
4Taxes & Deadlines
3Planning Documents
3Avoiding Probate
2Types of Probate in New York
New York offers several probate procedures depending on estate value and circumstances.
Formal Probate
Court-supervised administration for estates that do not qualify for a shortcut.
- Timeline
- 6-12+ months
- Attorney
- Recommended
Simplified Probate
A shorter court process that may be available for qualifying estates.
- Timeline
- Varies
- Attorney
- Recommended
Small Estate Procedure
A limited shortcut for qualifying small estates.
- Timeline
- Varies
- Attorney
- Optional
New York Probate Courts by County
62 counties with detailed data
Showing 36 of 62 counties. Search by county name or show the full list.
New York Estate Law Overview
New York Estate Tax Info
New York tax information for estates
Federal estate tax info
Federal estate tax only applies to estates exceeding $15,000,000 (2026).
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Intestate succession controls who receives probate property when a New York decedent dies without a valid will.
New York Homestead Protection
New York does not have a Florida/Texas-style constitutional probate homestead shield recorded in these sources. Home transfers are handled through title, TOD deed, survivorship, trust, probate, or administration paths. Property tax exemptions may apply separately.
Exempt Property
EPTL 5-3.1 sets aside specified family exemption property for a surviving spouse, or if none or disqualified, children under age 21. These items are not treated as estate assets to the extent the statute applies.
Latest New York Articles
View allLetters Testamentary in New York: What Banks and Courts Ask For
Letters testamentary in New York guide for executors checking probate authority, certified copies, forms, asset-holder requests, and related court letters.
New York Health Care Proxy Checklist: Agent, Witnesses, and Medical Wishes
New York health care proxy checklist covering agent choice, two-witness signing, medical authority, artificial nutrition and hydration wishes, MOLST, and updates.
New York Probate Deadlines: Executor Watch Dates
New York probate deadlines guide for executors, administrators, and families tracking letters, creditor timing, estate tax, small estates, and court filing steps.
New York Small Estate Voluntary Administration: Filing Path Check
New York small estate voluntary administration guide for families checking the $50,000 personal-property limit, real property limits, filing papers, and court certificates.