For most Cattaraugus 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.
For a Cattaraugus 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 Cattaraugus 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, Cattaraugus County property passes through the Surrogate's Court — even simple New York probates run 7+ months and start with $45 in filing fees.
A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Cattaraugus 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 Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and notary acknowledgmentN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
Deeds and other real property documents for Cattaraugus County are recorded with the County Clerk at 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755. Phone: 1-716-938-2297. Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The County Clerk charges $50 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page. Recording a 2-page transfer on death deed in Cattaraugus County comes to $65, which is $55 in recording fees plus the $10 Grantor Notification Fee (RPL § 291, county local law). A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.
Recording Office Record
Cattaraugus County
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
Fax
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $50.25 |
| Each additional page | $5 |
| TP-584 Combined Real Estate Transfer Tax ReturnNot required for a TOD deed | $5 |
| RP-5217 Real Property Transfer Report (Residential/Agricultural)Not required for a TOD deed | $125 |
| RP-5217 Real Property Transfer Report (Commercial/Other)Not required for a TOD deed | $250 |
| Grantor Notification Fee (RPL § 291, county local law)Applies to a TOD deed | $10 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
CPLR § 8021(a)(4) (county-adjustable); RPL § 333(3)(ii) (RP-5217 filing fee); county-published fee schedules
Verified October 17, 2026 · Source
FirmBuffalo, NY
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawGuardianshipand 2 more
FirmOlean, NY
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness LawReal Estate
Solo PracticeOlean, NY
Olean (Cattaraugus County) firm open since 2018, with one attorney and three paralegals working estate matters. Handles probate and estate administration, trust administration and trust funding, and estate litigation, alongside wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and proactive and crisis Medicaid planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more
FirmAmherst, NY
Western New York firm with offices in Amherst, Buffalo, Ellicottville, and Lockport. Its estate group concludes the final affairs of a client's loved one: filing the probate petition in Surrogate's Court for an executor named in a will, or having an administrator appointed when there is none, then accounting for estate assets, paying the decedent's debts, and distributing what remains to beneficiaries. Also handles Article 81 guardianships for incapacitated adults, elder law, and long-term-care planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawGuardianship
FirmBuffalo, NY
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate Litigation
FirmBuffalo, NY
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more
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.
Data sourced from New York statutes and official state code. How we research.
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