Estate Planning for Queens County, New York Property Owners

For most Queens 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 Queens 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 Queens County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the Office of the City Register, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Skipping this planning step means the Surrogate's Court decides who receives the property: a simple New York probate takes 7+ months and opens with $45 in court filing fees.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Queens County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Queens County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the Office of the City Register 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 →Queens Countysigning requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Queens County are recorded with the Office of the City Register at 144-06 94th Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11435. Phone: (212) 487-6300.

The Office of the City Register charges $37 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page. A 2-page transfer on death deed costs $42 to record in Queens County. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Queens County accepts electronic recording through ACRIS.

Recording Office Record

Office of the City Register

Queens County · City Register

Address

144-06 94th AvenueJamaica, NY 11435

E-recording

Available via ACRISE-recording info →
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

Base fee (first page)$37
Each additional page$5
TP-584-NYC Combined Real Estate Transfer Tax Return (NYC)no separate City Register filing fee
RP-5217-NYC Real Property Transfer Report (Residential/Agricultural)$125
RP-5217-NYC Real Property Transfer Report (Commercial/Other)$250
NYC-RPT NYC Real Property Transfer Tax Returnno fee on a deed; $100 to file the RPTT for non-deed transfers
Transfer tax on a TOD deedExempt

NYC Department of Finance Schedule of Property Recording Fees and Taxes; CPLR § 8021; RPL § 333(3)(ii)

Open in Google Maps

Verified September 8, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Queens County

FirmBronx, NY

Adon & Associates, P.C.

Serves 4 counties

Bronx firm on Westchester Avenue handling probate and estate administration for executors and administrators, from the initial filing through distributing assets and closing the estate. Also drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney and advance directives, and handles estate tax planning. Consultations are free.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateTax PlanningAsset Protection

Office
2387 Westchester AvenueBronx, NY 10461
Free consultation

Solo PracticeBrooklyn, NY

Alatsas Law Firm

Serves 5 counties

Brooklyn (Kings County) practice led by Theodore Alatsas, working the Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, New York and Nassau County Surrogate's Courts for nearly 30 years. Handles probate, administration proceedings, and trust administration, plus wills and trusts, Medicaid and long-term care planning, and asset protection. Runs estate planning workshops.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 3 more

Office
2115 Avenue UBrooklyn, NY 11229
Free consultation

FirmCollege Point, NY

Albert Maimone & Associates, P.C.

Serves 7 counties

College Point (Queens) firm with dedicated pages for will probate, estate administration, lost-will hearings, and spousal and beneficiary-rights disputes, taking executors from validating the will through distributing what is left, and petitioning the Surrogate's Court to admit a copy when the original will cannot be found. Also drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and testamentary guardian appointments for minor children. Serves all five New York City boroughs plus Nassau and Suffolk, and offers a free consultation and case evaluation on probate matters.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbate

Office
127-16 14th AvenueCollege Point, NY 11356
Free consultation

Solo PracticeBrooklyn, NY

Bohm Law Firm, P.C.

Since 2011 · Serves 5 counties

Brooklyn firm led by Pinni Bohm with a second office in Times Square, Manhattan. Petitions the New York City Surrogate's Courts for Letters Testamentary and Letters of Administration, advises executors and administrators on their duties, oversees distributions to beneficiaries and heirs, and negotiates with estate creditors. Also litigates will and trust contests, spousal right-of-election disputes, and fiduciary-misconduct claims.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more

Office
1301 Coney Island Avenue, Suite 2ABrooklyn, NY 11230
Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmBronx, NY

Cavallo & Cavallo

Since 1989 · Serves 4 counties

Bronx firm on East Tremont Avenue with an appointment-only New Rochelle office, serving Bronx, Westchester, Manhattan and Queens families since 1989. Walks executors and administrators through filing the will and petition with the Surrogate's Court, getting appointed, notifying heirs, beneficiaries and creditors, collecting and valuing assets, paying debts, taxes and expenses, and distributing what remains. Also takes contested probate - will contests, undue-influence claims, disputes over asset ownership and challenges to executor authority - plus trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and Medicaid and special-needs planning. Consultations are free and the firm practices in Spanish.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 8 more

Office
3453 East Tremont AvenueBronx, NY 10465
Free consultation

FirmBrooklyn, NY

Connors & Sullivan, Attorneys at Law, PLLC

Serves 4 counties

Bay Ridge (Brooklyn) estate and elder law firm with four further offices in Manhattan, Bayside, Middle Village and Staten Island. For executors it files the original will, contacts next of kin, collects assets and prepares income and estate tax returns, and it litigates will contests, contested accountings and contested deed transfers in Surrogate's Court. Also handles wills and trusts, special needs trusts, estate tax and capital-gains planning, and Medicaid and long-term-care planning; the initial consultation is complimentary.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more

Office
7408 Fifth AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11209
Free consultation
See all 46 firms serving Queens 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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