Lake Success (Nassau County) firm guiding executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries through New York Surrogate's Court — probate, estate and trust administration, and contested estates and objections to a will or to fiduciary conduct. Also handles estate planning, retirement-distribution planning, Medicaid and elder law. Absorbed the Berwitz & DiTata estate practice.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Nassau County, New York
How probate works in Nassau County: the Surrogate's Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Nassau County Surrogate's Court
Nassau County · 10th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
262 Old Country Road, 3rd Floor, Mineola, NY 11501
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysAdministration, small estate, probate and miscellaneous proceedings are filed through NYSCEF. Accounting and guardianship proceedings may be e-filed, and adoption proceedings are not accepted through NYSCEF. A self-represented filer is exempt and files on paper. On paper: Accounting (e-filing optional); Guardianship (e-filing optional); Adoption (not accepted through e-filing); Self-represented filers (exempt).
Self-represented filing
AllowedA self-represented filer may file on paper at the court or take part in NYSCEF voluntarily.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCredit card, Check, Money order, Cash.Fees are paid by credit card through NYSCEF, with a non-refundable 2.99% service fee, or at the court in person or by mail by attorney check, postal money order, certified check or cash. A filing paid at the court is deleted if payment is not received within five business days of e-filing.
Fax
1-516-571-2997
Departments
- Accounting1-516-493-3791 · nassausur.accounting@nycourts.gov
- Administration1-516-493-3777 · nassausur.administration@nycourts.gov
- Adoption1-516-493-3781 · nassausur.adoption@nycourts.govNew adoptions are processed in Nassau County Family Court since October 2025. This line handles adoption records, certificates of adoption and orders to vacate.
- Calendar1-516-493-3784 · nassausur.calendar@nycourts.gov
- Guardianship1-516-493-3794 · nassausur.guardianship@nycourts.gov
- Law Department1-516-493-3828 · nassausurlawdept@nycourts.gov
- Miscellaneous1-516-493-3788 · nassausur.misc@nycourts.gov
- Motions1-516-493-3763 · nassausurrogatemotions@nycourts.gov
- Probate1-516-493-3772 · nassausur.probate@nycourts.gov
- Records1-516-493-3821 · nassausur.records@nycourts.gov
- Safe Deposit Box1-516-493-3795 · nassausur.safedepositbox@nycourts.gov
- Small Estates1-516-493-3779 · nassausur.smallestates@nycourts.gov
- Wrongful Death1-516-493-3814 · nassausur.wrongfuldeath@nycourts.gov
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Nassau County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Nassau County, probate runs through the Surrogate's Court at 262 Old Country Road, 3rd Floor, Mineola. The court sits in the 10th Judicial District. Nassau County shares the 10th Judicial District with Suffolk.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under New York intestacy law when there is no will.
Most New York estates take 9 months to 15 months to move through this process. Creditors have 7 monthsSCPA 1802, 1803, 1810, 1811; EPTL 11-1.5Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the opening of the estate.
What Probate Costs in Nassau County
What probate costs in Nassau County, New York comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Surrogate's Court at 262 Old Country Road, 3rd Floor, Mineola. The court is part of the 10th Judicial District.
New York charges $45 - $1,250 (based on estate value)N.Y. SCPA § 2402(1), (2), (7)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in New York are negotiated, 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 estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
New York sets executor compensation by statute — about $19,000 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 3.8%SCPA § 2307Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under SCPA §§ 710, 801, 805Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in New York typically runs 9 months to 15 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Surrogate's Court
Probate cases in Nassau County, New York are filed at the Surrogate's Court. The court sits in the 10th Judicial District.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Accounting, Administration, Adoption, and Calendar.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
In New York, informal probate is not availableSCPA § 1408 (court must inquire into all facts before admitting a will to probate)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Nassau County Self-Filing Assessment.
Nassau County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Working copies on request
The court may require hard-copy working copies of e-filed documents. Each working copy is an exact duplicate with proof of e-filing attached to its front.
SourceDocument Requirements
Original will and death certificate within two business days
After e-filing, the original death certificate and the original will are filed with the court within two business days. The will is scanned without removing the staples.
SourceRecords Access
Court records online through WebSurrogate
Documents filed on or after February 19, 2014 can be viewed online through WebSurrogate. Earlier documents are viewed on the public computers at the courthouse; wills filed for safekeeping and adoption proceedings are not searchable.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Surrogate's Court: Death certificate — one must be filed on any application for letters testamentary, letters of administration, or voluntary administration; alternate evidence of death may be accepted in the court's discretion (22 NYCRR 207.15(b)); Original will and any codicils (filed with the Petition for Probate) (SCPA Art. 14); Estimate of gross estate value (personal and real property, gross rents for 18 months, and any wrongful-death/personal-injury cause of action) in the petition (22 NYCRR 207.16(a)(2))N.Y. Surrogate's Court Procedure Act Art. 14 (§§ 1401-1424, probate; § 1402 who may propound will/contents of petition; § 1414 letters testamentary); Art. 10 (§ 1001 et seq., administration); Art. 13 (§§ 1301-1312, small estate)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Medical Examiner in Nassau County
In Nassau County certified copies of the death certificate come from the Registrar of Vital Statistics of the town or city where the death occurred, or from New York State Department of Health - Vital Records Section.
Vital Records Office Record
New York State Department of Health - Vital Records Section
Nassau County · State vital records office
Phone
Website
Certified copies
From the Registrar of Vital Statistics of the town or city where the death occurred, or from New York State Department of Health - Vital Records Section
New York State Department of Health
Vital Records Certification Unit
P.O. Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $30 |
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Nassau County · Nassau County Medical Examiner's Office
Phone
Hours
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Office
2251 Hempstead Turnpike, Building R, East Meadow, NY 11554
Website
Mail and offices
Fax
1-516-572-5174
Business hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Nassau County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Clerk.
Deeds and other real property documents for Nassau County are recorded with the County Clerk at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY 11501. Phone: 1-516-571-2660. Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:45 PM (last cashiering at 4:45 PM).
The County Clerk charges $45 per document plus $5 for every page.
Nassau County accepts electronic recording through CSC, ePN and Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Nassau County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:45 PM (last cashiering at 4:45 PM)
Office
240 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY 11501
Website
E-recording
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 |
| Per Block FeeRequired with most deeds | $300 |
| Residential Deed Notification Fee (RPL § 291)Required with most deeds | $10 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD 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
Probate Attorneys Serving Nassau County
New York uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Nassau County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in New York are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Nassau County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Surrogate's Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Jericho (Nassau County) firm filing for Long Island families in the Nassau and Suffolk Surrogate's Courts. Handles probate, letters of administration and estate administration, wills and trusts, trustee and beneficiary representation, elder law and special-needs planning. Attorneys handle each case personally rather than passing it to staff.
Woodbury solo handling Nassau County probate through the Surrogate's Court in Mineola. Haner files probate petitions, gets executors appointed under letters testamentary, and brings compulsory-accounting and will-contest proceedings when a fiduciary refuses to account. The site carries fourteen plain-language Surrogate's Court explainers covering citations, renunciations, temporary administration and venue.
Setauket (Suffolk County) practice handling probate, estate administration, and trust and estate litigation in the Surrogate's Court, serving Long Island and the New York metro area. Drafts wills, trusts, and special-needs and business-succession plans, and brings adult guardianship proceedings, with phone, virtual, and office consultations offered at no charge.
Mineola attorney-CPA handling Nassau County estate settlement in the Surrogate's Court. Kutner takes administrators through probate and through the non-probate transfers that sit outside it, including estates holding real property in more than one county, and serves as executor and trustee himself. He also oversees the trust, estate and tax departments of a Manhattan firm as of counsel.
Great Neck (Nassau County) firm of two attorneys serving Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Westchester. Handles probate where there is a will and estate administration where there is not, navigating the Surrogate's Court system for executors and administrators, alongside trust administration, wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, elder law, Medicaid planning, and special-needs trusts. Founded in 2017 by attorneys with more than two decades in elder law and estate practice; free 15-minute phone consultation.
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
(9)·
- N.Y. SCPA § 2402(1), (2), (7)
- N.Y. Surrogate's Court Procedure Act Art. 14 (§§ 1401-1424, probate; § 1402 who may propound will/contents of petition; § 1414 letters testamentary); Art. 10 (§ 1001 et seq., administration); Art. 13 (§§ 1301-1312, small estate)
- SCPA § 1408 (court must inquire into all facts before admitting a will to probate)
- SCPA § 2307
- SCPA 1802, 1803, 1810, 1811; EPTL 11-1.5
- CPLR § 8021(a)(4) (county-adjustable); RPL § 333(3)(ii) (RP-5217 filing fee); county-published fee schedules
- Nassau County Surrogate's Court, official page
- Nassau County Clerk, official page
- Nassau County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from New York statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in New York
Free tools for settling an estate in New York: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for New York.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in New York: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 270 days22 NYCRR 207.20Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 7 monthsSCPA 1802, 1803, 1810, 1811; EPTL 11-1.5Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 7 months to 9 months.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in New York happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's trust statuteN.Y. EPTL Article 7Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
Can I Self-File Probate?
In New York, informal probate is not availableSCPA § 1408 (court must inquire into all facts before admitting a will to probate)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
Get the Answer
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