What to Do When Someone Dies in Queens County, New York
Probate in Queens 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 Queens 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.
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneysSelf-filing allowed
Accepted paymentCredit card. Credit card via NYSCEF (no service fee to use NYSCEF) or payment at the court; pay-at-court filings are deleted if unpaid within 2 business days. Fees calculated under SCPA § 2402.
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 Queens County, probate runs through the Surrogate's Court at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica. The court sits in the 11th 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 Queens County
What probate costs in Queens 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 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica. The court is part of the 11th Judicial District.
Probate matters are handled through Accounting, Administration, Calendar/Conferences, and Exemplifications. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
Local procedures at this court that affect cost: Cash Flow Statement required for accountings. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
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/protocolQueens.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 Queens 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 11th Judicial District.
Filings here are routed through Accounting, Administration, Calendar/Conferences, and Exemplifications. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.
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 Queens 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.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Self-represented litigants may opt out of e-filing
Use Form SCM-2 "Notice of Opt-Out from Participation in Proceeding Subject to Electronic Filing" to opt out. Form SC-3 available if ceasing e-filing after starting.
Credit card. Credit card via NYSCEF (no service fee to use NYSCEF) or payment at the court; pay-at-court filings are deleted if unpaid within 2 business days. 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 Queens 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 Office of the City Register.
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.
Queens County accepts electronic recording through ACRIS.
New York uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Queens 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 Queens 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.
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.
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
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.
Rego Park practice limited to New York Surrogate's Court estate cases — Seidel says plainly that he does not do estate planning. The work is the hard end of administration: kinship proceedings after the Public Administrator has filed an accounting and called the family "alleged" heirs, cousin cases, and ancillary probate for out-of-state clients holding New York assets.
PracticesEstate AdministrationProbate
Office
95-60 Queens Boulevard, PMB 501Rego Park, NY 11374
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
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
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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Queens County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Queens County, New York.
