New York County, New York Probate
Cost Calculator

Estate administration in New York County, New York proceeds through the Manhattan Surrogate's Court in Manhattan. Understanding the local court's requirements — from petition formatting to hearing schedules — helps the process move efficiently.

The Manhattan Surrogate's Court in Manhattan processes a high volume of estate filings, with dedicated probate staff and structured hearing calendars. Expect longer initial wait times for hearings, but the trade-off is a court system with deep experience handling complex estates.

The typical probate timeline runs 9-24 months.

New York uses "estate proceedings" handled by the Surrogate's Court. Executor commissions follow SCPA § 2307's declining schedule (5% on the first $100K).

Attorney fees are court-reviewed under SCPA § 2110. New York also imposes a state estate tax on estates above $6.94M.

Full details: New York Probate Calculator.

The New York County Surrogate's Court is located at 31 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007. The court clerk can be reached at (646) 386-5000.

Visit the court's website for current forms, fee schedules, and filing instructions. Electronic filing is available.

Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.

• Executor commissions in New York County follow SCPA § 2307: 5% on the first $100K, declining to 2% above $5M.
• Attorney fees are court-reviewed under SCPA § 2110.
• Filing fees at the Manhattan Surrogate's Court in Manhattan include the petition fee (scaled to estate value), Letters Testamentary, and certified copies.

• Estate proceedings in New York County — the 3rd most populated of New York's 62 counties — begin with filing a probate petition at the Manhattan Surrogate's Court in Manhattan.
• New York requires that all persons whose interests would be affected by the probate receive citation (notice), and the Surrogate's Court will not admit the will until jurisdiction over all necessary parties is established.
• As a New York City borough, New York County's Surrogate's Court handles an exceptionally heavy caseload, and expect structured calendar management and potentially longer wait times for hearing dates.

• After Letters Testamentary are issued, the executor must marshal estate assets, file a notice to creditors, and manage the estate through administration.
• New York requires a formal accounting before the estate can be closed, which the Surrogate's Court must approve.
• The typical timeline in New York County runs 9-24 months — among the longest in the nation — driven by New York's procedural requirements, the accounting process, and the estate tax review for estates above the $6.94 million threshold.
• Small estate proceedings under SCPA Article 13 provide an expedited alternative for estates under $50,000.

New York's small estate procedure under SCPA Article 13 is available for estates valued below $50,000 in New York County, ranked 3rd of the state's 62 counties. This "voluntary administration" process is handled through the Manhattan Surrogate's Court in Manhattan and provides a significantly faster and less expensive alternative to full probate proceedings.

The small estate threshold applies to the total value of the decedent's personal property.

In a New York City borough like New York County, the high cost of living means that many estates exceed the $50,000 threshold, limiting the applicability of voluntary administration. However, evaluate whether non-probate transfers and joint ownership have reduced the probate estate below the cap.

• Getting an accurate cost estimate before you start probate in New York County helps you budget for New York's statutory percentage schedule plus local filing fees at the Manhattan Surrogate's Court.
• The clerk's office in Manhattan can answer procedural questions about required forms and hearing schedules.

• This free probate calculator applies New York's specific rules automatically — enter the estate's approximate value to get an instant breakdown of expected fees.
• No account required.