Brooklyn (Kings County) practice led by Theodore Alatsas, working the Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, New York and Nassau County Surrogate's Courts for nearly 30 years. Handles probate, administration proceedings, and trust administration, plus wills and trusts, Medicaid and long-term care planning, and asset protection. Runs estate planning workshops.
Estate Planning for Brooklyn, New York Property Owners
For most Kings County (Brooklyn) 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 Kings County (Brooklyn) 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 Kings County (Brooklyn) home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the City Register, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.
Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Kings County (Brooklyn) property passes through the Surrogate's Court — even simple New York probates run 7+ months and start with $45 in filing fees.
Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Kings County (Brooklyn)
A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Kings County (Brooklyn) property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the City Register 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.
Where to Record Property Documents
Deeds and other real property documents for Kings County (Brooklyn) are recorded with the City Register at 210 Joralemon Street, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Phone: 1-212-487-6300.
The City Register charges $37 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page. A 2-page transfer on death deed is $42 in recording fees, before any required forms the office charges for. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.
Kings County (Brooklyn) accepts electronic recording through ACRIS.
Recording Office Record
City Register
Kings County (Brooklyn)
Phone
Office
210 Joralemon Street, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Website
E-recording
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $37 |
| Each additional page | $5 |
| TP-584-NYC Combined Real Estate Transfer Tax Return (NYC)Not required for a TOD deed | no separate City Register filing fee |
| RP-5217-NYC Real Property Transfer Report (Residential/Agricultural)Not required for a TOD deed | $125 |
| RP-5217-NYC Real Property Transfer Report (Commercial/Other)Not required for a TOD deed | $250 |
| NYC-RPT NYC Real Property Transfer Tax ReturnRequired with most deeds | no fee on a deed; $100 to file the RPTT for non-deed transfers |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
NYC Department of Finance Schedule of Property Recording Fees and Taxes; CPLR § 8021; RPL § 333(3)(ii)
Verified October 17, 2026 · Source
Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Kings County (Brooklyn)
College Point (Queens) firm with dedicated pages for will probate, estate administration, lost-will hearings, and spousal and beneficiary-rights disputes, taking executors from validating the will through distributing what is left, and petitioning the Surrogate's Court to admit a copy when the original will cannot be found. Also drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and testamentary guardian appointments for minor children. Serves all five New York City boroughs plus Nassau and Suffolk, and offers a free consultation and case evaluation on probate matters.
Sheepshead Bay firm on East 14th Street working Kings County estates out of Brooklyn's Surrogate's Court, with a second office in Manhattan. The practice covers probate, administration and all aspects of estate and trust administration, and prepares and files the estate, gift and fiduciary income tax returns that follow — work led by an attorney who is also a practising CPA.
Brooklyn firm led by Pinni Bohm with a second office in Times Square, Manhattan. Petitions the New York City Surrogate's Courts for Letters Testamentary and Letters of Administration, advises executors and administrators on their duties, oversees distributions to beneficiaries and heirs, and negotiates with estate creditors. Also litigates will and trust contests, spousal right-of-election disputes, and fiduciary-misconduct claims.
Bay Ridge (Brooklyn) estate and elder law firm with four further offices in Manhattan, Bayside, Middle Village and Staten Island. For executors it files the original will, contacts next of kin, collects assets and prepares income and estate tax returns, and it litigates will contests, contested accountings and contested deed transfers in Surrogate's Court. Also handles wills and trusts, special needs trusts, estate tax and capital-gains planning, and Medicaid and long-term-care planning; the initial consultation is complimentary.
Brooklyn practice on Columbia Street representing executors and administrators in the Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond and Bronx Surrogate's Courts. It collects waivers and consents from distributees, gets a citation issued when an heir will not sign, opens the estate account and EIN, reviews creditor claims and files the final accounting. The first one-hour consultation is free, online or in person.
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.
Legal Sources
(2)·
- N.Y. Real Prop. Law 424
- NYC Department of Finance Schedule of Property Recording Fees and Taxes; CPLR § 8021; RPL § 333(3)(ii)
Data sourced from New York statutes and official state code. How we research.
Forms for Planning Your Estate in New York
Free forms for planning your estate in New York: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for New York.
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Last Will and Testament
In New York, a will is signed before 2EPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyEPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
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Codicil to a Will
In New York, a codicil is signed before 2EPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, like a will, and the self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonySCPA §§ 103(52), 1406Verified Oct 25, 2026View source.
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Healthcare Power of Attorney
New York requires 2NY PHL § 2981(5)(d)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not requiredNY PHL § 2981(5)(d)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source.
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HIPAA Release
In New York, a HIPAA release names who may receive your records and, as the state requires, names HIV/AIDS-related information and genetic informationN.Y. Pub. Health Law §§ 2780(9), 2782(5)(a) (Article 27-F); NY DOH Form DOH-2557 (Rev. 2/11); N.Y. Civ. Rights Law § 79-l(2)(b), (2)(c), (2)(d), (3)(a)Verified Jun 19, 2026View source expressly before a provider releases them.
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Financial Power of Attorney
New York treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultNY GOL §§ 5-1501, 5-1501A, 5-1501B, 5-1502A through 5-1502N, 5-1504, 5-1512, 5-1513Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed before 2NY GOL §§ 5-1501, 5-1501A, 5-1501B, 5-1502A through 5-1502N, 5-1504, 5-1512, 5-1513Verified Sep 18, 2026View source witnesses and a notary.
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Transfer on Death Deed
In New York, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 19, 2026View source and 2N.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. New York does not recognize a Lady Bird deed.
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Pour-Over Will
In New York, a pour-over will is signed before 2EPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
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Tools for Planning Your Estate in New York
Free tools for planning your estate in New York: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for New York and read its answer.
How Do I Sign Estate Documents?
In New York, a will is signed before 2EPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredEPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
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Will My Estate Documents Transfer?
New York recognizes a will signed under the law of the place where it was signedEPTL § 3-5.1(c)Verified Oct 19, 2026View source; a will signed in New York itself needs 2EPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredEPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
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Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
In New York, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 2.5%Modeled estimate under SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 4%Modeled estimate under SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
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How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in New York runs $4,250Estimate: 10 hours at $425, Clio's New York Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $6,375Estimate: 15 hours at $425, Clio's New York Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
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How Much Does a Will Cost?
An attorney-prepared will in New York runs $1,344Estimate: 3 hours at $448, Clio's New York Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,688Estimate: 6 hours at $448, Clio's New York Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $299 up front with an online service, and probate on a $500,000 estate adds about $35,992SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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How Does SimplyTrust Compare to LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Other Services?
Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.
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How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children?
In New York, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a will or a separate signed writingN.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 81; N.Y. SCPA §§ 1707, 1710Verified Sep 16, 2026View source, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18N.Y. SCPA § 1707(2); N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 81Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.
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Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
Probate in New York takes 7 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 2.5%Modeled estimate under SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 4%Modeled estimate under SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
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New York Estate Planning Articles
Estate planning articles for New York.
