Estate Planning for Orange County, New York Property Owners

For most Orange 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.

For a Orange 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 Orange 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, Orange 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 Orange County

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

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Orange County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk Kelly Eskew, at 255 Main Street, Goshen, NY 10924. Phone: (845) 291-2690. Hours: Monday - Friday 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 Orange County comes to $55. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Orange County · County Clerk · Kelly Eskew

Address

255 Main StreetGoshen, NY 10924

Fax

(845) 378-2368

Hours

Monday - Friday 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

Verified September 8, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Orange County

FirmGoshen, NY

Blustein, Shapiro, Frank & Barone, LLP

Serves 2 counties

Goshen (Orange County) firm with a second office in Monticello, in Sullivan County. Its wealth-preservation group sees that a decedent's assets are distributed correctly and on time through probate for individually owned property and trust administration for assets passing under a trust instrument, and takes on guardianships; its litigation group handles estate and trust disputes among heirs. Most of its attorneys have been named to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers list.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 6 more

Office
10 Matthews StreetGoshen, NY 10924

FirmNew Windsor, NY

Drake Loeb PLLC

Serves 1 county

New Windsor (Orange County) firm whose estate group handles the probate and administration of a loved one's estate, simple or complex, including the tasks that come with it such as selling estate real property and filing any estate tax returns. Also advises on wills, trusts, health care proxies and powers of attorney, elder law and Medicaid and nursing-home planning, guardianship proceedings and special needs trusts. The group includes members of the Hudson Valley Estate Planning Council.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more

Office
555 Hudson Valley Avenue, Suite 100New Windsor, NY 12553

Solo PracticeOrangeburg, NY

Law Offices of Robert S. Lewis, P.C.

Serves 2 counties

Orangeburg firm representing Rockland and Orange County executors and administrators through the Surrogate's Court, with a second office in Suffern. Handles heirship searches, the inventory of assets, liquidating a decedent's house, distributing to heirs and filing the estate accounting, and defends fiduciaries accused of breach of duty. Consultations are free and the office has Spanish-speaking staff.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 8 more

Office
100 Dutch Hill Road, Suite 380Orangeburg, NY 10962
Free consultation

FirmMillbrook, NY

Mackey Catania & Whalen LLP

Serves 2 counties

Millbrook and Poughkeepsie offices appearing before the Dutchess County Surrogate's Court. Advises trustees and executors on their fiduciary duties and walks administrators through probate and intestate administration, then litigates the estates that go wrong — will and trust contests, accounting proceedings and missing-asset claims. A twenty-attorney bench spanning New York and Connecticut.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 6 more

Office
3208 Franklin AvenueMillbrook, NY 12545

FirmMiddletown, NY

MacVean, Lewis, Sherwin & McDermott, P.C.

Since 1885 · Serves 1 county

Middletown firm in Orange County handling estate planning and administration alongside its litigation and real estate work. Prepares trusts, powers of attorney, living wills and health care proxies, and takes on contested matters including will contests, estate litigation and guardianship proceedings. One of the oldest firms in the Hudson Valley, tracing its roots to 1885.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbate LitigationElder Lawand 3 more

Office
34 Grove StreetMiddletown, NY 10940
Free consultation

Solo PracticeGoshen, NY

Mark G. Aberasturi, Attorney at Law P.C.

Serves 4 counties

Goshen solo practice a few minutes from the Orange County Surrogate's Court, also serving Ulster, Sullivan and Rockland. Walks a surviving spouse or child through being appointed executor or administrator, marshaling scattered accounts, filing the inventory, paying creditors and taxes, filing the decedent's final return and the estate return, and filing the final account with the court. Former chairman of the Orange County Bar Association Elder Law Committee.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more

Office
30 Matthews StreetGoshen, NY 10924
Free consultation
See all 22 firms serving Orange 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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