For most Chemung 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 Chemung 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 Chemung 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.
Skipping this planning step means the Surrogate's Court decides who receives the property: a simple New York probate takes 7+ months and opens with $45 in court filing fees.
A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Chemung 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.
Deeds and other real property documents for Chemung County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk Linda Forrest, at 210 Lake Street, Elmira, NY 14901. Phone: (607) 737-2920. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM; Recordings accepted until 4:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to PO Box 588, Elmira, NY 14902.
The County Clerk charges $45 per document plus $5 for every page. A 2-page transfer on death deed costs $55 to record in Chemung County. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.
Recording Office Record
Chemung County · County Clerk · Linda Forrest
Address
Phone
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
FirmBath, NY
Bath (Steuben County) firm serving the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier for over 100 years. Its wills, trusts and estates practice is planning-side — wills and trusts, health care proxies, living wills, powers of attorney, Medicaid planning and guardianships — alongside real estate and civil litigation.
PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawGuardianshipMedicaid Planning
FirmElmira, NY
Elmira firm on West Church Street representing executors, administrators, heirs, and beneficiaries in Surrogate's Court probate across Chemung, Steuben, and Schuyler counties, from the petition and appointment through inventory and appraisal of estate assets. Its planning side covers elder law, Medicaid, asset protection, and special-needs planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 more
FirmCorning, NY
Corning firm (Steuben County) serving the Southern Tier since 1979, with seven attorneys. Its trusts and estates practice covers estates, probate and administration, guardianship proceedings, wills, special needs trusts, powers of attorney and health care proxies, plus Medicaid planning and applications.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationElder Lawand 4 more
FirmElmira, NY
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
Solo PracticeBinghamton, NY
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
FirmBinghamton, NY
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
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.
Estate planning articles for New York.
Forms and tools for property owners in Chemung County.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Create a free, state-specific will with witness and notarization requirements included.
Transfer assets to your existing trust. State execution requirements included.
Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate.
Designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf.
Designate someone to manage your financial affairs.
Answer questions about your estate size, real estate ownership, marital status, and family situation to see how a revocable trust compares to a will alone. Includes estimated probate costs for your state.
Answer questions about your property type, ownership structure, and estate plan to see if a TOD deed is the right approach. Includes state-specific availability, signing requirements, and recording fees.
Compare trusts vs wills for your specific situation. See probate costs, trust administration expenses, and whether your estate qualifies for simplified procedures based on your state and estate value.
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
Compare the cost of creating a revocable living trust. See how SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys compare over 5 years including life events.
Estate planning articles for New York.
