Estate Planning for Lewis County, New York Property Owners

For most Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Lewis 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.

Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Lewis County 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 Lewis County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Lewis 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 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.

Create a New York TOD deed →Lewis County signing requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Lewis County are recorded with the County Clerk at 7660 North State Street, County Courthouse, Lowville, NY 13367. Phone: 1-315-376-5333. 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 is $55 in recording fees, before any required forms the office charges for. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Lewis County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC and ePN.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Lewis County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM

Office

7660 North State Street, County Courthouse, Lowville, NY 13367

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Fees

Recording fees

Document fee (per document)$45
Each page$5
TP-584 Combined Real Estate Transfer Tax ReturnNot required for a TOD deed$5
RP-5217 Real Property Transfer Report (Residential/Agricultural)Not required for a TOD deed$125
RP-5217 Real Property Transfer Report (Commercial/Other)Not required for a TOD deed$250
291 Notification Fee (RPL § 291)Required with most deeds$10
Transfer tax on a TOD deedTOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax

CPLR § 8021(a)(4) (county-adjustable); RPL § 333(3)(ii) (RP-5217 filing fee); county-published fee schedules

Verified October 17, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Lewis County

Solo PracticeWatertown, NY

Schwerzmann & Wise, P.C.

Since 1985 · Serves 3 counties

Watertown practice founded in 1985, serving Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties in the North Country. Assists fiduciary clients with all aspects of estate and trust administration: preparing court documents, marshalling assets, opening bank accounts, bookkeeping, tax returns, accounting and closure. Home visits offered when needed.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate

Office
220 Sterling StreetWatertown, NY 13601

FirmCanton, NY

Ducharme, Goldie & Adams P.C.

Since 2022

Canton (St. Lawrence County) general practice founded in February 2022 by three attorneys with a long history in the town — Gerald J. Ducharme, Scott B. Goldie and Thomas R. Adams. Its wills, trusts and estates work covers drafting wills and trusts and representing clients in probate and the administration of estates, alongside real estate transactions, family law and municipal law.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate

Office
2 Judson StreetCanton, NY 13617

Solo PracticePlattsburgh, NY

Law Office of Frank G. Zappala

Plattsburgh (Clinton County) general practice with over 35 years in the North Country. Handles probate and estate administration, wills and trusts, powers of attorney and guardianship, and real estate, alongside personal injury, workers' compensation, and Social Security disability.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipReal Estate

Office
142 Margaret StreetPlattsburgh, NY 12901

FirmUtica, NY

Hilton Estate & Elder Law, LLC

Since 2012 · Serves 2 counties

Utica firm with offices in Boonville and Lowville whose post-death side handles probate and trust administration, staffed by a dedicated probate paralegal alongside the attorneys. Its planning side covers wills, powers of attorney and health care proxies, revocable and asset-protection trusts, nursing-home and Medicaid planning, tax planning, and special-needs planning. Partner Robert K. Hilton III has helped over 600 families protect assets or qualify for Medicaid and has prevailed in over 50 Medicaid fair hearings.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more

Office
2100 Genesee StreetUtica, NY 13502
Free consultation

Solo PracticeOneida, NY

Michel J. DeBottis, Attorney at Law

Serves 4 counties

Solo practitioner in Oneida (Madison County) serving Central New York — Oneida, Rome, Utica, Syracuse, Chittenango, New Hartford, Whitesboro and Lowville. Takes wills through Surrogate's Court probate and handles administration where there is no will, gathering assets, paying outstanding bills and final and administrative expenses, and distributing what remains to the beneficiaries or statutory distributees. Also handles wills, powers of attorney, health care proxies and HIPAA authorizations, and Medicaid applications, fair hearings and crisis planning, alongside a general civil practice.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawMedicaid Planning

Office
312 Broad StreetOneida, NY 13421

FirmLatham, NY

Pierro, Connor & Strauss, LLC

Serves 13 counties

Capital Region trusts and estates practice in Latham, with offices in New York City, Garden City, Hudson and Lake Placid and more than 280 years of combined attorney experience. Handles estate and trust administration, probate, estate and trust litigation, guardianship under Article 81 and 17-A, Medicaid and special needs planning, and tax planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTrust Litigationand 5 more

Office
43 British American BoulevardLatham, NY 12110
Free consultationVirtual consultations
See all 10 firms serving Lewis 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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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

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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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Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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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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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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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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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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