Probate in New York, handled for you
New York settles estates through the Surrogate's Court, one in each county. With a will, you file for probate and ask the court for letters testamentary; without one, you file for administration. New York lets you represent yourself, but the citation-and-waiver process and the court's paperwork trip up a lot of families. Kindred handles the administration and keeps every filing and signature moving.
New York lets you handle an uncontested probate without a lawyer. New York allows an executor or administrator to represent the estate without a lawyer, but the Surrogate's Court process — citations to distributees, waivers, the petition, and the accounting — is exacting. Kindred handles the administrative work and keeps the case organized; if anything is contested, we flag it so you can bring in an attorney of your choosing.
The four things families ask first
Hourly / flat fee
Read moreA straightforward New York probate often runs about 7 to 12 months — the citation and waiver step (getting every distributee to sign off or be served) is the most common bottleneck.
Read more$50,000 or less in personal property (voluntary administration)
Read moreSurrogate's Court, in the county where the person lived
What it could cost in New York
≈ 45 hours of admin and legal work, all billed at lawyer rates.
Kindred + your attorney
Estimated difference vs. a full-service firm
$5,500
+ about 150 hours of your own time
Full-service estimated at $250–$400/hr for ~45hours; the attorney figure is an illustrative fixed fee. Illustrative only — not a quote or legal advice. Figures vary by estate. We're not a law firm; an independent attorney always handles the legal work.
Worth knowing in New York
Surrogate's Court
New York's dedicated probate court — one per county. With a will you petition for probate and letters testamentary; without one, for administration and letters of administration. The distributee citation/waiver step is the part to get right.
Frequently asked
Do I need a lawyer for probate in New York?
Not necessarily — New York lets an executor or administrator represent the estate without a lawyer. But the Surrogate's Court process (citations, waivers, the petition, the accounting) is demanding. Kindred handles the administrative work and keeps it organized; if anything is contested, we flag it so you can bring in an attorney of your choosing. Kindred is not a law firm.
How much does probate cost in New York?
The Surrogate's Court filing fee is on a sliding scale by estate size — roughly $45 up to $1,250 for estates of $500,000 or more (SCPA §2402). Executor commissions are set by statute (SCPA §2307), starting at 5% of the first $100,000, though family executors often waive them. Attorney fees, if you use one, are typically hourly. These are illustrative figures.
What is voluntary administration in New York?
It's New York's small-estate proceeding, available when the person left $50,000 or less in personal property. It's a simpler, cheaper filing than full probate — a voluntary administrator is appointed to collect and distribute the assets. If the person owned real property in their name alone, full probate is usually still required.
How long does probate take in New York?
Often 7 to 12 months. The most common bottleneck is the citation-and-waiver step — every distributee must sign a waiver or be formally served before the will is admitted. Creditors then generally have 7 months to present claims. Contested or kinship cases take longer.
Last verified June 2026. Figures are illustrative and vary by estate — not a quote or legal advice. Kindred is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice; we handle the administrative work and coordinate an independent attorney where one is legally required.
You don't have to carry this alone.
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