Elmira firm on West Church Street representing executors, administrators, heirs, and beneficiaries in Surrogate's Court probate across Chemung, Steuben, and Schuyler counties, from the petition and appointment through inventory and appraisal of estate assets. Its planning side covers elder law, Medicaid, asset protection, and special-needs planning.
Probate in Steuben County
Probate Court Record
Steuben County Surrogate's Court
Steuben County · 7th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
3 East Pulteney Square, Bath, NY 14810
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Steuben County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Steuben County? →Settling an estate in Steuben County →
Estate Planning Firms Serving Steuben County
Olean firm serving Cattaraugus County families, with a second office in Wellsville. Shane & Firkel handles estate administration after a death - the firm keeps a dedicated estate-administration paralegal in the Olean office - alongside the estate planning that precedes it. The partnership also carries a regional specialty in oil and gas title work drawn from the Bradford field that runs under southern Cattaraugus County.
Elmira (Chemung County) firm on West Water Street, serving the Elmira area since 1934 and now in its third generation under James E. DeFilippo. Represents executors and trustees through estate and trust administration — protecting assets for beneficiaries, collecting outstanding assets and income, paying valid bills, filing federal and state estate, gift and fiduciary income tax returns, calculating tax basis for beneficiaries and filing court reports. Also prepares wills, lifetime trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies and lifetime transfers of the home with a reserved life use.
Binghamton (Broome County) practice serving the Southern Tier since 1985 and appearing in New York's probate courts. Handles all aspects of estate and trust administration, including will-contest proceedings and family disputes, and prepares simple and complex wills and trusts. Uses tax and estate-planning techniques to reduce federal and New York estate transfer taxes.
Binghamton (Broome County) firm tracing its lineage to 1898, with seven New York offices from Ithaca to Walton. Its trusts, estates and elder law group counsels executors, administrators and trustees through estate and trust administration, obtains Letters Testamentary and Letters of Administration, and litigates disputed executor appointments in Surrogate's Court.
New York elder law and estate planning firm working from twelve offices — Albany, five on Long Island, three in the Mid-Hudson Valley, New City and White Plains, and Staten Island. Guides executors and families through probate and estate administration, and handles trusts built to keep an estate out of Surrogate's Court, Medicaid asset protection, Medicaid applications and estate tax savings. Nine lawyers and seventeen paralegals and support staff, practicing since 1991; consultations are no-cost, virtual or in person, and the firm takes uncontested probate only.
All 11 New York estate planning firms serving Steuben County →
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in New York
Free New York forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. 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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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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Healthcare Power of Attorney
New York requires 2NY PHL § 2981(5)(d)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not requiredNY PHL § 2981(5)(d)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source.
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Financial Power of Attorney
New York treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultNY GOL §§ 5-1501, 5-1501A, 5-1501B, 5-1502A through 5-1502N, 5-1504, 5-1512, 5-1513Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed before 2NY GOL §§ 5-1501, 5-1501A, 5-1501B, 5-1502A through 5-1502N, 5-1504, 5-1512, 5-1513Verified Sep 18, 2026View source witnesses and a notary.
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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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Free
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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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in New York
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in New York: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for New York.
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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Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
Probate in New York takes 7 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges 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; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
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What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable 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 and a simple will $1,344Estimate: 3 hours at $448, Clio's New York Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,688Estimate: 6 hours at $448, Clio's New York Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
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How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in New York costs an estimated $35,992SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 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 under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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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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What Are the Estate Laws in My State?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in New York costs an estimated $35,992SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source and takes 7 months to 9 months for a simple estate, with 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. Estates under $50,000SCPA § 1301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source can use a small-estate procedure instead.
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