Buffalo firm in the Elmwood Village, practising in Erie County and across Western New York since 1933. Handles probate proceedings and estate administration end to end, Article 81 guardianships, wills and trusts, and Medicaid and long-term-care planning.
Williamsville is in Erie County.
More Asset Protection Firms in Erie County
Buffalo elder law firm on Cayuga Road with satellite offices in East Aurora and Lockport. Its estate side opens testate and intestate proceedings, locates heirs and notifies them of their right to object to the executor's appointment, works with the executor to inventory assets and fix date-of-death values, then prepares the accounting and the papers that release the executor and close the estate. Twelve attorneys, six of them partners, concentrate in elder law and estate work rather than general practice.
Orchard Park firm serving Erie County families in Surrogate's Court, whether a loved one left a will or died without one. The practice covers getting the executor or administrator appointed, identifying and collecting the decedent's assets, and distributing to beneficiaries. Planning work runs to Medicaid asset protection trusts and supplemental needs trusts for a beneficiary on public benefits.
Probate in Erie County
Probate Court Record
Erie County Surrogate's Court
Erie County · 8th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
Erie County Hall, 92 Franklin Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14202
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Erie County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Erie County? →Settling an estate in Erie County →
Forms for Planning Your Estate in New York
Free forms for planning your estate in New York: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for New York.
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Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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Pour-Over Will
In New York, a pour-over will is signed before 2EPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
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Transfer on Death Deed
In New York, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 19, 2026View source and 2N.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. New York does not recognize a Lady Bird deed.
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Last Will and Testament
In New York, a will is signed before 2EPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyEPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
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Tools for Planning Your Estate in New York
Free tools for planning your estate in New York: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for New York and read its answer.
Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
In New York, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 2.5%Modeled estimate under SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 4%Modeled estimate under SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
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How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in New York runs $4,250Estimate: 10 hours at $425, Clio's New York Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $6,375Estimate: 15 hours at $425, Clio's New York Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
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Do I Need a TOD Deed?
New York authorizes transfer on death deedsN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 17, 2026View source: a recorded, revocable deed that passes real property at death outside probate.
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Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?
New York automatically revokes an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceNY EPTL § 5-1.4Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
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