Estate Planning for Cortland County, New York Property Owners

For most Cortland 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 Cortland 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 Cortland 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.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Cortland County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Cortland 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 →Cortland Countysigning requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Cortland County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk Brooke Kemak, at 46 Greenbush Street, Suite B5, Cortland, NY 13045. Phone: (607) 753-5021. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.

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

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Cortland County · County Clerk · Brooke Kemak

Address

46 Greenbush Street, Suite B5Cortland, NY 13045

Fax

(607) 753-5378

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
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 Cortland County

FirmSyracuse, NY

Davies Law Firm, P.C.

Since 1993 · Serves 6 counties

Syracuse firm founded in 1993 to focus exclusively on estate and long-term planning, serving Onondaga, Madison, Oneida, Cortland, Oswego and Cayuga counties. Walks executors and administrators through Onondaga County Surrogate's Court — petitioning for Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, requesting Preliminary Letters for urgent tasks, small-estate voluntary administration under $50,000, and marshaling assets into an estate account. Also handles living trust administration and funding, irrevocable trusts, and Medicaid and elder-law planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 3 more

Office
210 E Fayette StreetSyracuse, NY 13202
Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmSyracuse, NY

MCV Law

Serves 7 counties

Syracuse firm of twelve attorneys with offices in Auburn and Chittenango, guiding families through New York probate court, including estates where there is no will and the administrator must distribute under New York intestacy law, and estates where a will fails the state's execution requirements. Also drafts wills and powers of attorney. Gary J. Valerino manages the estate planning and administration practice with Paula M. Highers. Consultations are free.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate Administration

Office
511 East Fayette StreetSyracuse, NY 13202
Free consultation

FirmCortland, NY

Pomeroy, Armstrong & Casullo, LLP

Serves 1 county

Cortland County firm of four attorneys, carrying on a Cortland practice founded in the 1930s. Guides estate fiduciaries from the initial Surrogate's Court proceeding through required filings, locating and securing assets, and distributions to heirs and beneficiaries, and handles Medicaid planning against nursing-home costs.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationMedicaid Planning

Office
16 Tompkins StreetCortland, NY 13045

FirmSyracuse, NY

CDH Law PLLC

Syracuse (Onondaga County) firm representing executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries across Central New York in the Surrogate's Courts. Handles probate and estate administration and litigates objections to a will or a trust, alongside estate planning, wills and trusts, and Medicaid trusts.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more

Office
211 Tompkins StreetSyracuse, NY 13204

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

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 Cortland 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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