Estate Planning & Probate in Chemung County, New York
There are two reasons people look up Chemung County probate: to keep a family out of it, or to get a loved one's estate through it. Start with your situation below; both paths use Chemung County's actual court and recording details.
Someone died — settling an estate
Filing probate at the Surrogate's Court, what it costs, transferring property, and local attorneys.
What to do when someone dies in Chemung County→Planning ahead as a property owner
Keep a Chemung County home out of probate with a transfer-on-death deed or a living trust.
Estate planning in Chemung County→The Probate Process in Chemung County
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 Chemung County, probate runs through the Surrogate's Court at Hazlett Building, 203-205 Lake Street, Elmira. The court sits in the 6th Judicial District.
Full Chemung Countyprobate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
Surrogate's Court
Chemung County · 6th Judicial District
Address
Phone
Hours
Recording Deeds & Property Documents
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Chemung County · County Clerk · Linda Forrest
Address
Phone
Hours
$45 per document plus $5 for every page; a 2-page TOD deed records for $55; TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax.
Full recording details →Verified September 8, 2026 · Source
Local Procedures at the Surrogate's Court
Case name must be identical to name on will. No punctuation or spaces. Name on death certificate different from will = add as AKA. Scan original will for e-filing but DO NOT UNSTAPLE. File original paper will with court within 2 business days of e-filing.
New York Estate Planning Articles
Articles about estate planning, probate, and trusts relevant to families in Chemung County.
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