Syracuse firm on East Washington Street with a by-appointment Watertown office, serving Central and Northern New York. Walks heirs and fiduciaries through Surrogate's Court from the petition to appoint the executor through the inventory, debts, distributions, tax returns, and final accounting; administers trusts for successor trustees; and litigates objections to probate, trust-validity contests, trustee removals, and accounting proceedings. Its planning side covers elder law, Medicaid trusts and applications, dementia planning, guardianship and special-needs planning, and elder care coordination.
Carthage is in Jefferson County.
More Probate Firms in Jefferson County
Watertown practice founded in 1985, serving Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties in the North Country. Assists fiduciary clients with all aspects of estate and trust administration: preparing court documents, marshalling assets, opening bank accounts, bookkeeping, tax returns, accounting and closure. Home visits offered when needed.
Probate in Jefferson County
Probate Court Record
Jefferson County Surrogate's Court
Jefferson County · 5th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Office
Jefferson County Court Complex, 163 Arsenal Street, 3rd Floor, Watertown, NY 13601
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Jefferson County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Jefferson County? →Settling an estate in Jefferson 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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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.
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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How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in New York: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 270 days22 NYCRR 207.20Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 7 monthsSCPA 1802, 1803, 1810, 1811; EPTL 11-1.5Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 7 months to 9 months.
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How Much Can an Executor Charge?
New York sets executor compensation by statute — about $19,000 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 3.8%SCPA § 2307Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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Do I Need Probate?
In New York, estates with personal property of $50,000SCPA § 1301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less use the Voluntary AdministrationSCPA § 1301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, a court filing short of full probate.
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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In New York, the 7 monthsSCPA § 1802Verified Sep 8, 2026View source period after the personal representative's appointment protects a representative who distributes after it; late claims can still reach undistributed assets.
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Can I Self-File Probate?
In New York, informal probate is not availableSCPA § 1408 (court must inquire into all facts before admitting a will to probate)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
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