Estate Planning for Broome County, New York Property Owners

For most Broome County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.

Record a TOD deedWhere to recordLocal attorneys

For a Broome County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the Surrogate's Court. The two tools that keep a Broome County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the County Clerk, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Broome County property passes through the Surrogate's Court — even simple New York probates run 7+ months and start with $45 in filing fees.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Broome County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Broome County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the County Clerk during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.

Before recording, a New York transfer on death deed is signed with 2N.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Aug 24, 2026View source witnesses and notary acknowledgmentN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.

Create a New YorkTOD deed →Broome Countysigning requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Broome County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk Aaron M. Martin, at 60 Hawley Street, 3rd Floor, Binghamton, NY 13901. Phone: (607) 778-2451. Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 3:45 PM (recordings); 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (searching).

Documents submitted by mail go to PO Box 2062, Binghamton, NY 13902.

The County Clerk charges $45 per document plus $5 for every page. Recording a 2-page transfer on death deed in Broome County comes to $55. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Broome County · County Clerk · Aaron M. Martin

Address

60 Hawley Street, 3rd FloorBinghamton, NY 13901Mailing: PO Box 2062, Binghamton, NY 13902

Fax

(607) 778-2243

Hours

Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 3:45 PM (recordings); 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (searching)
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

Document fee (per document)$45
Each page$5
TP-584 Combined Real Estate Transfer Tax Return$5
RP-5217 Real Property Transfer Report (Residential/Agricultural)$125
RP-5217 Real Property Transfer Report (Commercial/Other)$250
Transfer tax on a TOD deedExempt

CPLR § 8021(a)(4) (county-adjustable); RPL § 333(3)(ii) (RP-5217 filing fee); county-published fee schedules

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Verified September 8, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Broome County

Solo PracticeBinghamton, NY

Law Office of Greg S. Catarella

Serves 1 county

Binghamton solo practice handling probate and estate administration in the Broome County Surrogate's Court. Greg Catarella works with people who have been named executor or trustee and need to move an estate through the court process, and pairs that with elder law, Medicaid planning and Article 81 guardianship petitions for families dealing with incapacity.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more

Office
31 Lewis Street, Suite 403Binghamton, NY 13901

FirmVestal, NY

Levene Gouldin & Thompson, LLP

Since 1927 · Serves 4 counties

Vestal firm outside Binghamton with offices in Ithaca, Whitney Point, and Montrose, Pennsylvania. Its trusts and estates group supports executors, trustees, and beneficiaries through estate and trust administration and contested and uncontested probate, and its litigators handle estate controversies. Best Lawyers ranks it the region's only first-tier Trusts & Estates firm; founded in 1927.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbate Litigationand 5 more

Office
450 Plaza DriveVestal, NY 13850

Solo PracticeVestal, NY

Pelella Law P.C.

Since 2014 · Serves 1 county

Solo practice in Vestal, Broome County, opened by Palmer J. Pelella in Binghamton in 2014. Handles probate and estate administration for surviving families, including disputes among beneficiaries over how assets are distributed, alongside wills, powers of attorney, health care proxies, and life-use deed transfers.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate Administration

Office
120 Plaza Drive, Suite A-1Vestal, NY 13850

Solo PracticeBinghamton, NY

Fabrizio Law Offices

Since 1985

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 3 more

Office
84 Court Street, Suite 201Binghamton, NY 13901

FirmElmira, NY

DeFilippo Law Firm P.L.L.C.

Since 1934

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationReal Estate

Office
1225 West Water Street, Suite 1Elmira, NY 14905

FirmBinghamton, NY

Coughlin & Gerhart LLP

Since 1898 · Serves the whole state

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 8 more

Office
99 Corporate DriveBinghamton, NY 13904
See all 8 firms serving Broome County→

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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