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.
Watertown is in Jefferson County.
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.
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 Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in New York happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's trust statuteN.Y. EPTL Article 7Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
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What's Fair Trustee Compensation?
In New York, trustee compensation follows a statutory fee scheduleNY SCPA § 2309; NY SCPA § 2312 (corporate trustees); NY SCPA § 2313 (multiple trustees)Verified Sep 18, 2026View source unless the trust instrument sets a different amount. The schedule is an annual commission on principal.
Calculate the Fee
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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