What to Do When Someone Dies in Ontario County, New York
Probate in Ontario County runs through the Surrogate's Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Ontario County, settling their estate runs through the Surrogate's Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
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 Ontario County, probate runs through the Surrogate's Court at 27 North Main Street, Canandaigua. The court sits in the 7th Judicial District.
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. The 7 monthsSCPA § 1802Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Ontario County
What probate costs in Ontario 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 27 North Main Street, Canandaigua. The court is part of the 7th Judicial District.
New York charges $45 - $1,250 (based on estate value)N.Y. SCPA § 2402(1), (2), (7)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Surrogate's Court (https://iappscontent.courts.state.ny.us/NYSCEF/live/protocols/surrogates/protocolOntario.pdf). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in New York are negotiated, typically 2.5%SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 4%SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is also statutory in New York. Family executors 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%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
If you're handling probate yourself in Ontario County, New York, you can file at the Surrogate's Court in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the 7th Judicial District.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Ontario County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Surrogate's Court is realistic.
Credit card. Credit card (Visa/Mastercard) via NYSCEF (2.99% service fee) or payment at the court. Fees calculated under SCPA § 2402.
What to Bring
To file at the Surrogate's Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Ontario 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 Ontario County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk Jean Chrisman, at 20 Ontario Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424. Phone: (585) 396-4200. Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.
The County Clerk charges $45 per document plus $5 for every page.
New York uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Ontario 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 — typically 2.5%SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 4%SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Ontario 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.
Waterloo (Seneca County) firm practicing in the heart of the Finger Lakes for four generations, serving Seneca, Ontario, Wayne, Yates, Cayuga and Schuyler counties. Represents executors and administrators through appointment, notifying next-of-kin, applying for the estate EIN, valuing and liquidating assets, filing the court inventory and estate tax returns, negotiating with creditors, accounting to beneficiaries and distributing the estate. Also handles Medicaid and nursing-home planning, wills and trusts, and elder law; initial probate consultations are free.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 2 more
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
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
Pittsford practice serving Rochester, Naples and the Finger Lakes, opened by Michael Robinson in 1986 and concentrated on estate planning. Guides executors, personal representatives and trust administrators through probate and trust administration, and represents beneficiaries and heirs, alongside Medicaid and special needs planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationElder Lawand 3 more
Office
1163 Pittsford-Victor Road, Suite 120Pittsford, NY 14534
Canandaigua firm representing personal representatives, executors and trustees through Ontario County Surrogate's Court administration, with a second office in Geneva. The practice handles both probate and non-probate assets, including assets held in trust, and represents beneficiaries and estate creditors. It also litigates contested estates - will contests, breach of fiduciary duty and trust disputes - on either side.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 9 more
Canandaigua practice on North Street concentrating on elder law, estate and trust planning and administration, and long-term-care and disability planning. Edward C. "Russ" Kenyon has spent over 30 years helping clients with estates, trusts, Medicaid, and long-term-care plans, and is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. The firm returned under the Kenyon & Kenyon name on March 1, 2025.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationElder Law
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.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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Ontario County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Ontario County, New York.
