Estate Planning for Monroe County, New York Property Owners

For most Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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, Monroe 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 Monroe County

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

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Monroe County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk Jamie Romeo, at 39 West Main Street, Room 101, County Office Building, Rochester, NY 14614. Phone: (585) 753-1600. Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

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

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Monroe County · County Clerk · Jamie Romeo

Address

39 West Main Street, Room 101, County Office BuildingRochester, NY 14614

Fax

(585) 753-1650

Hours

Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 5:00 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

Open in Google Maps

Verified September 8, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Monroe County

FirmRochester, NY

Evans Fox LLP

Serves 1 county

Rochester firm whose trust and estate probate and administration group handles Surrogate's Court proceedings for Monroe County families. For an executor the work runs to setting a timeline, identifying the interested parties, ranking creditor priority, accounting to beneficiaries, and filing fiduciary and estate tax returns. Its litigation group takes on will objections and accounting disputes when a proceeding turns contested.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 9 more

Office
100 Meridian Centre Boulevard, Suite 300Rochester, NY 14618

Solo PracticeCanandaigua, NY

Finger Lakes Attorney PLLC

Since 2022 · Serves 2 counties

Canandaigua (Ontario County) solo practice working out of a former Town of Hopewell schoolhouse on Route 5 and 20. Guides Finger Lakes families through estate administration and probate start to finish, and handles wills, health care proxies, powers of attorney, irrevocable asset protection trusts and Medicaid applications. Free consultations in person, by phone or over Zoom.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more

Office
3678 State Route 5 and 20Canandaigua, NY 14424
Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmRochester, NY

Gallo & Iacovangelo, LLP

Serves 1 county

Rochester (Monroe County) firm whose estate group represents executors through administration — addressing disputes, resolving claims, paying estate taxes and distributing assets — and advises individual and corporate trustees on trust administration, distributions and terminations. Founding partner Frank B. Iacovangelo serves as Public Administrator in and for Monroe County.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 3 more

Office
180 Canal View BlvdRochester, NY 14623

FirmRochester, NY

Lacy Katzen LLP

Since 1950 · Serves 1 county

Rochester firm in the Legacy Tower downtown, with appointment offices in Pittsford, Greece, Charlotte, Bergen, Canandaigua and Ontario. Its estate administration attorneys take executors and administrators from the Surrogate's Court petition through asset inventory, the seven-month window in which creditors may present claims, estate and fiduciary income tax returns, and the final accounting that closes the estate. The firm dates to 1950 and now has 21 attorneys and 60 support staff.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more

Office
600 Bausch & Lomb PlaceRochester, NY 14604

FirmRochester, NY

McConville Considine Cooman & Morin, P.C.

Since 1979 · Serves 1 county

Rochester firm at Meridian Centre, with appointment-only offices in Penfield, Fairport, and Greece. Its estate administration lawyers guide executors, administrators, and trustees through probate, establishing estate and trust accounts, liquidating assets, and preparing fiduciary accountings, estate tax returns, and fiduciary income tax returns. Also handles will contests and trust disputes, Medicaid planning, and guardianship proceedings.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 6 more

Office
300 Meridian Centre Boulevard, Suite 110Rochester, NY 14618

FirmPalmyra, NY

Morell Law, PLLC

Serves 3 counties

Palmyra firm filing for Wayne County families in the Wayne County Surrogate's Court. Morell Law probates wills and handles the administration and settlement of estates, working with the family and beneficiaries to transfer assets and guiding them through the income, estate and gift tax issues that follow a death.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateTax Planningand 2 more

Office
224 East Main StreetPalmyra, NY 14522
Free consultation
See all 20 firms serving Monroe 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.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Legal Sources

Data sourced from New York statutes and official state code. How we research.

New York Estate Planning Articles

Estate planning articles for New York.