Probate in Cattaraugus County

Probate Court Record

Cattaraugus County Surrogate's Court

Cattaraugus County · 8th Judicial District

Hours

Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM

Office

Cattaraugus County Courthouse, 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in Cattaraugus County →

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in Cattaraugus County? →Settling an estate in Cattaraugus County →

Probate Firms Serving Cattaraugus County

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.

Since 1933Serves 6 countiesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawGuardianshipAsset ProtectionMedicaid Planning

Batavia (Genesee County) office of a Western New York firm with further offices in Buffalo and Hamburg, serving individuals and families throughout Genesee County and the surrounding communities. Advises on estate administration, trust administration and probate administration, and litigates contested wills and estates over the disposition of personal and real property. Partner Thomas F. Hewner has handled thousands of estates and served as counsel to the Public Administrator of Erie County.

Serves 3 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationConservatorship+2

Buffalo firm on Elmwood Avenue handling estate matters throughout greater Western New York. Guides executors through probate and estate administration, picking the right proceeding and preparing the filings, and represents executors, beneficiaries and heirs in will contests and other Surrogate's Court disputes. Also drafts wills, trusts, health care proxies and powers of attorney.

Estate PlanningProbateProbate Litigation

Buffalo firm on Main Street handling probate, estate and trust administration, and estate litigation for estates, fiduciaries and beneficiaries. Admits wills to probate, deals with creditors, transfers probate and non-probate assets, and minimizes estate and trust income tax. Cross-border practice for Canadians holding U.S. property.

Since 1959Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTax PlanningSpecial Needs Planning

Binghamton (Broome County) general-practice firm on Front Street handling probate alongside civil litigation, real estate, banking and credit union law, commercial transactions, and labor relations. Represents business, banking, institutional and individual clients across New York State and in Pennsylvania. Holds an AV rating from the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.

Serves the whole stateProbate

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.

Since 1898Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+6

All 11 New York probate firms serving Cattaraugus 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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