Probate in Cattaraugus County runs through the Surrogate's Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Cattaraugus County, settling their estate runs through the Surrogate's Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Cattaraugus County · 8th Judicial District
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
Accepted paymentCredit card. Credit card via NYSCEF or payment at the court (in person). A filing is not complete until the fee is paid. Fees calculated under SCPA § 2402.
Verified July 4, 2026 · Source
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Cattaraugus County, probate runs through the Surrogate's Court at Cattaraugus County Courthouse, 303 Court Street, Little Valley. The court sits in the 8th Judicial District.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under New York intestacy law when there is no will.
Most New York estates take 9 months to 15 months to move through this process. The 7 monthsSCPA § 1802Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What probate costs in Cattaraugus County, New York comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Surrogate's Court at Cattaraugus County Courthouse, 303 Court Street, Little Valley. The court is part of the 8th Judicial District.
New York charges $45 - $1,250 (based on estate value)N.Y. SCPA § 2402(1), (2), (7)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Surrogate's Court (https://iappscontent.courts.state.ny.us/NYSCEF/live/protocols/surrogates/protocolCattaraugus.pdf). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in New York are negotiated, typically 2.5%SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 4%SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is also statutory in New York. Family executors who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%SCPA §§ 710, 801, 805Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in New York typically runs 9 months to 15 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
If you're handling probate yourself in Cattaraugus County, New York, you can file at the Surrogate's Court in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the 8th Judicial District.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Cattaraugus County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationNot every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Surrogate's Court is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Cattaraugus County Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Pre-filing decedent search required
Before filing, run NYSCEF inquiry on decedent last name with first initial. Contact court to check for wills filed for safekeeping.
SourceCase name format: no punctuation or spaces
Case name must be identical to name on will. No punctuation or spaces. Name on death certificate different from will = add as AKA.
SourceOriginal will required within 2 business days
E-file scanned will, then file original paper will with court within 2 business days of e-filing.
SourceSASE required for document returns
Provide stamped self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage for document returns.
SourceBefore You Go
Credit card. Credit card via NYSCEF or payment at the court (in person). A filing is not complete until the fee is paid. Fees calculated under SCPA § 2402.
To file at the Surrogate's Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Clerk.
Deeds and other real property documents for Cattaraugus County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk Darrell Klute, at 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755. Phone: (716) 938-2297. Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
The County Clerk charges $45 per document plus $5 for every page.
Recording Office Record
Cattaraugus County · County Clerk · Darrell Klute
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
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 deed | Exempt |
CPLR § 8021(a)(4) (county-adjustable); RPL § 333(3)(ii) (RP-5217 filing fee); county-published fee schedules
Verified September 8, 2026 · Source
New York uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Cattaraugus County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in New York are based on reasonable compensation — typically 2.5%SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 4%SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Cattaraugus County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Surrogate's Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
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 PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 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 PlanningEstate AdministrationBusiness 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 PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 4 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 PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder 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 PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateProbate 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 PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 3 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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Vehicles, jewelry, collectibles, etc.
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Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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