How much does probate cost in New York?
New York charges a Surrogate's Court filing fee on a sliding scale tied to the size of the estate, and sets executor commissions by statute (SCPA §2307). Attorney involvement, if you choose it, is typically hourly or a negotiated fee.
- The Surrogate's Court probate filing fee is set on a sliding scale by estate value (SCPA §2402) — from about $45 for the smallest estates up to $1,250 for estates of $500,000 or more.
- Executor commissions are set by statute (SCPA §2307): 5% of the first $100,000, 4% of the next $200,000, 3% of the next $700,000, 2.5% of the next $4,000,000, and 2% above $5,000,000 — though a family member serving as executor often waives them.
- If you use an attorney, fees are typically hourly or a negotiated flat fee — New York does not set a statutory attorney percentage the way California does.
- Kindred's flat administrative fee replaces the hours you'd otherwise pay a professional to chase documents and signatures.
Estimate your New York costs
≈ 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.
Common questions
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.
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.
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