What to Do When Someone Dies in Richmond County (Staten Island), New York
Probate in Richmond County (Staten Island) 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 Richmond County (Staten Island), 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 Court Record
Surrogate's Court
Richmond County (Staten Island) · 13th Judicial District
Address
18 Richmond Terrace, Room 201Staten Island, NY 10301
Phone
Hours
Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Paper filing availableE-filing optionalSelf-filing allowed
Accepted paymentCredit card. Credit card via NYSCEF (no service fee to use NYSCEF) or payment at the court. A filing is not complete until the fee is paid. Fees calculated under SCPA § 2402.
Departments
- General Clerks Office718-675-8500
- Guardianship718-675-8510 · RichmondGuardianship@nycourts.gov
- Help Center718-675-8508 · richsurrhelpctr@nycourts.gov
- Calendars/Motions/Law Dept718-675-8505
Verified June 2, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Richmond County (Staten Island)
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 Staten Island, probate runs through the Surrogate's Court at 18 Richmond Terrace, Room 201, Staten Island. The court sits in the 13th 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 monthsSCPA § 2307Verified Jun 11, 2026View source to 15 monthsSCPA § 2307Verified Jun 11, 2026View source to move through this process. The 7 monthsSCPA § 1802Verified Jun 11, 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 Richmond County (Staten Island)
What probate costs in Richmond County (Staten Island), 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 18 Richmond Terrace, Room 201, Staten Island. The court is part of the 13th Judicial District.
Probate matters are handled through General Clerks Office, Guardianship, Help Center, and Calendars/Motions/Law Dept. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
Local procedures at this court: Pre-filing decedent search required; Original will within 2 business days - DO NOT UNSTAPLE; Case name format: no punctuation or spaces. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
Richmond County (Staten Island) runs a probate self-help center, which is the single biggest cost-saver for families who can self-file. Staff can walk you through the paperwork and explain procedures, though they cannot give legal advice on your specific case. Call 718-675-8508.
New York charges $45 - $1,250 (based on estate value)SCPA § 2402, subd. 7Verified Jun 11, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
The Surrogate's Court accepts e-filing (https://iappscontent.courts.state.ny.us/NYSCEF/live/protocols/surrogates/protocolRichmond.pdf). Paper filing remains available for self-represented filers.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in New York are negotiated, typically 2%SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Jun 11, 2026View source to 4%SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Jun 11, 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 Jun 11, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in New York typically runs 9 monthsSCPA § 2307Verified Jun 11, 2026View source to 15 monthsSCPA § 2307Verified Jun 11, 2026View source, and costs accrue throughout. The 7 monthsSCPA § 1802Verified Jun 11, 2026View source creditor claim window is the single biggest driver of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of estate complexity.
How to File Probate at the Surrogate's Court
Probate documents in Richmond County (Staten Island) can be filed in person at the Surrogate's Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available. The court sits in the 13th Judicial District.
Filings here are routed through General Clerks Office, Guardianship, Help Center, and Calendars/Motions/Law Dept. 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 at the court or by mail.
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.
View E-Filing InformationCan You File 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. Richmond County (Staten Island) has a self-help center that assists people filing without an attorney.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Richmond County (Staten Island) Self-Filing Assessment.
Richmond County (Staten Island) 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
Pre-filing decedent search required
Before filing, run NYSCEF inquiry on decedent last name with first initial. Contact court to check for wills filed for safekeeping.
SourceCase name format: no punctuation or spaces
Case name must be identical to name on will. No punctuation or spaces. Name on death certificate different from will = add as AKA.
SourceDocument Requirements
Original will within 2 business days - DO NOT UNSTAPLE
Scan original will for e-filing but DO NOT UNSTAPLE. File original paper will with court within 2 business days of e-filing.
SourceOther Requirements
SASE required - minimum 2 oz postage
Self-addressed stamped envelopes with at least 2 oz postage required for document returns. Without SASE, documents placed in attorney pick-up bin.
SourceBefore You Go
Accepted payment
Credit card. Credit card via NYSCEF (no service fee to use NYSCEF) or payment at the court. A filing is not complete until the fee is paid. 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 Richmond County (Staten Island)
Clearing title to real estate after a death—recording a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order—happens at the County Clerk.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Richmond County (Staten Island) · County Clerk · Hon. Stephen J. Fiala
Address
130 Stuyvesant Place, 2nd FloorStaten Island, NY 10301
Phone
Hours
Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
E-recording
Not available
Recording fees
| Base recording fee | $45 |
| Per additional page | $5 |
| TP-584 Combined Real Estate Transfer Tax ReturnRequiredall_deedsRequired for all conveyances. For TOD deeds, check with county clerk — form may still be required with $0 consideration noted. | $5 |
| RP-5217 Real Property Transfer Report (Residential/Agricultural)Requiredresidential_conveyancesRequired for residential property conveyances. May not apply to TOD deeds recorded during lifetime (no conveyance at recording). | $125 |
| RP-5217 Real Property Transfer Report (Commercial/Other)Requiredcommercial_conveyancesRequired for commercial property conveyances. | $250 |
Base fee includes county-generated cover page. Total for 1-page deed: $50 ($45 base + $5 per page). Cross-reference indexing: $0.50 per reference (CPLR § 8021(a)(7)).
CPLR § 8021(a)(4); NY Real Property Law § 316-a
Transfer tax
$2 per $500 of consideration (NY Tax Law § 1402). Transfer-on-death deeds are generally exempt (No consideration exchanged at recording. TOD deed is revocable and no property interest transfers until grantor death.). NY real estate transfer tax applies only when consideration is paid. TOD deeds involve $0 consideration at recording.
Richmond County (Staten Island) records through the County Clerk, NOT the NYC City Register. This is the only NYC borough that does not use ACRIS for deed recording.
Verified March 22, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving Richmond County (Staten Island)
New York uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Richmond County (Staten Island) — 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%SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Jun 11, 2026View source to 4%SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Jun 11, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Richmond County (Staten Island) 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.
New York City Firms
Alatsas Law Firm
FirmBrooklyn (Kings County) firm led by Theodore Alatsas, handling probate and estate and trust administration through the Kings County Surrogate's Court. Covers wills and trusts, Medicaid planning, and asset protection for homeowners across Bay Ridge, Sheepshead Bay, and the surrounding neighborhoods, and runs free estate planning workshops.
Location
2115 Avenue UBrooklyn, NY 11229
Phone
(718) 233-2903
Service Area
3 counties
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationElder LawAsset ProtectionTrust Administration
Free consultationVisit site
Gill & Kadochnikov P.C.
FirmKew Gardens firm practicing before the Queens County Surrogate's Court, a short walk from the courthouse. Represents executors, administrators, and beneficiaries in probate, estate administration, will contests, and beneficiary disputes, and structures wills, trusts, and powers of attorney for New York City families.
Location
80-02 Kew Gardens Road, Suite 600Kew Gardens, NY 11415
Phone
(929) 405-1054
Service Area
5 counties
Estate AdministrationEstate PlanningWill ContestsTrust AdministrationAsset Protection
Free consultationVisit site
Jules M. Haas
Solo PracticeManhattan solo handling contested and uncontested Surrogate's Court matters across New York City and surrounding counties: probate and intestate administration, kinship proceedings, will contests, fiduciary accountings, and estate-tax issues. A litigation-focused estate practice concentrating on disputed estates.
Location
488 Madison Avenue, Suite 1120New York, NY 10022
Phone
(212) 355-2575
Established
1985
Service Area
8 counties
Estate AdministrationWill ContestsTrust LitigationGuardianshipTax Planning
Free consultationVisit site
Law Office of Inna Fershteyn and Associates, P.C.
FirmSheepshead Bay (Brooklyn / Kings County) firm practicing since 1998, handling probate and estate administration through the Kings County Surrogate's Court for families across the five boroughs. Drafts wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and powers of attorney, and concentrates in Medicaid asset protection, guardianship, and elder law.
Location
1517 Voorhies Avenue, 4th FloorBrooklyn, NY 11235
Phone
(718) 333-2394
Established
1998
Service Area
5 counties
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationElder LawAsset ProtectionGuardianship
Visit site
Law Offices of Roman Aminov
Solo PracticeFlushing (Queens County) practice handling probate and estate administration through the Queens County Surrogate's Court, with offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Drafts wills, living and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and health-care proxies, and represents families in Medicaid and special-needs planning across New York City.
Location
147-17 Union TurnpikeFlushing, NY 11367
Phone
(347) 766-2685
Established
2011
Service Area
5 counties
Estate AdministrationEstate PlanningElder LawTrust Administration
Free consultationVisit site
Littman Krooks LLP
FirmProbate, estate administration, tax returns, family dispute resolution. New York's only firm with three Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELAs).
Location
1325 Avenue of the Americas, 15th FloorNew York, NY 10019
Phone
(212) 490-2020
Established
1990
Service Area
8 counties
Estate AdministrationEstate PlanningTrust LitigationTax PlanningElder LawGuardianship
Visit site
Mishiyeva Law, PLLC
FirmManhattan firm representing beneficiaries, administrators, executors, and trustees in Surrogate's Court probate proceedings and will contests across New York City, Nassau, and Suffolk. Handles estate administration, ancillary probate, and trust litigation.
Location
85 Broad Street, 18th FloorNew York, NY 10004
Phone
(646) 233-0826
Established
2015
Service Area
7 counties
Estate AdministrationWill ContestsTrust LitigationAncillary ProbateElder Law
Free consultationVisit site
Morgan Legal Group PC
FirmManhattan firm handling probate and estate administration through the New York County Surrogate's Court and serving Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester. Represents executors and beneficiaries, litigates will contests, and structures wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health-care directives, including cross-border estates.
Location
100 Church Street, 8th FloorNew York, NY 10007
Phone
(212) 561-4299
Service Area
7 counties
Estate AdministrationEstate PlanningElder LawGuardianshipTrust Administration
Free consultationVisit site
Law Offices of Michael Camporeale P.C.
Solo PracticeStaten Island firm with offices across the New York City metro area, handling elder law, estate planning, Medicaid planning, and probate administration. Represents families through probate and estate administration and offers free consultations.
Location
1688 Victory Blvd, Suite 201Staten Island, NY 10314
Phone
(929) 667-6554
Estate AdministrationEstate PlanningElder LawAsset Protection
Free consultationVisit site
Katzner Law Group
FirmNew York City estate firm in Midtown Manhattan handling estate planning, asset protection, and probate and trust administration, including planning for unmarried couples and blended or divorced families. Founded in 2009 by Gabriel Katzner, a former CPA; also operates a San Diego office.
Location
360 Lexington Avenue, 15th FloorNew York, NY 10017
Phone
(855) 528-9637
Established
2009
Estate AdministrationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawAsset Protection
Visit site
Law Offices of Juliet Cohen, P.C.
Solo PracticeServes families and individuals in New York City with individually tailored estate plans. Also serves Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Location
105-19 Metropolitan AvenueForest Hills, NY 11375
Phone
(718) 544-5500
Estate AdministrationEstate PlanningSmall EstatesElder LawGuardianship
Free consultationVisit site
Michael J. Greenberg, P.C.
Solo PracticeMidtown Manhattan trusts-and-estates practice serving New York City families and fiduciaries, with cross-state reach into New Jersey, Connecticut, and Florida. Handles probate and estate administration, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and private fiduciary services, plus business-succession and generation-skipping transfer-tax planning.
Location
515 Madison Avenue, 31st FloorNew York, NY 10022
Phone
(212) 401-5750
Estate AdministrationEstate PlanningElder LawTrust Administration
Visit site
Paul Kenney Law
Solo PracticeUpper West Side Manhattan solo with a Long Beach office, handling estate planning, wills and trusts, probate, and elder-law matters for clients across New York City and Long Island. General practice also covering real estate and civil litigation.
Location
155 West 72nd Street, Suite 308New York, NY 10023
Phone
(212) 877-4039
Estate AdministrationEstate PlanningElder Law
Visit site
Ron L. Meyers & Associates PLLC
FirmGuides estate executors throughout the probate process, from debt management to asset distribution.
Location
475 Park Avenue South, Suite 2100New York, NY 10016
Phone
(646) 859-6433
Estate AdministrationEstate Planning
Free consultationVisit site
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
- SCPA § 1802
- SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)
- SCPA § 2307
- SCPA § 2402, subd. 7
- SCPA §§ 710, 801, 805
Data sourced from New York statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
You open probate by filing a petition with the Surrogate's Court in Richmond County (Staten Island), attaching the original will (if any), the death certificate, and the filing fee (about $625). Once the court issues letters, the personal representative can act.
Total probate costs usually run 3–8% of the estate value. For Richmond County (Staten Island), that means filing fees (about $625 to open), attorney fees, executor compensation, publication costs, and possibly a bond. The calculator on this page runs the math for your estate size.
Yes. The Surrogate's Court in Richmond County (Staten Island) accepts e-filing through the state portal. In-person filing at the courthouse is still available for those without digital access.
Not every estate needs one. Simple estates, small estates under the affidavit threshold, and states with informal probate can often be handled without counsel. Contested wills, out-of-state property, and business interests usually need an attorney. The New York self-filing assessment scores whether this estate can be handled without one.
A simple New York probate typically closes in 7–9 months; average estates run 9–15 months. The mandatory creditor-claim period accounts for much of that, so even uncontested estates rarely close quickly.
A revocable living trust skips probate entirely — no filing fee, no attorney schedule, no executor commission. The cost of setting up the trust is typically recovered many times over compared to what probate would cost the estate. Create a revocable trust online and keep the estate out of Richmond County (Staten Island) probate.
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