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.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Staten Island, New York
How probate works in Richmond County (Staten Island): the Surrogate's Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Richmond County (Staten Island) Surrogate's Court
Richmond County (Staten Island) · 13th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
18 Richmond Terrace, Room 201, Staten Island, NY 10301
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysE-filing through NYSCEF is mandatory for probate, administration, voluntary administration and accounting proceedings commenced on or after July 10, 2026, and for every later proceeding in them. Self-represented filers, adoptions and guardianships are excepted and file on paper. Filings carry the filer's contact information, including an email address. On paper: Self-represented filers; Guardianship proceedings; Adoption proceedings; Lifetime trusts.
Self-represented filing
AllowedSelf-represented filers file on paper. The Help Center and the satellite site assist with forms and the DIY small estate program.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCredit card.Card payment is made through NYSCEF at filing, with no charge for using NYSCEF, or the fee is paid at the court. A filing is not processed until the fee is paid in full.
Hearing schedule
- Citation returns are heard on a virtual calendar on Mondays at 10 a.m. Motions and conferences are heard in person on Wednesdays, and the guardianship calendar on Thursdays is virtual.
Self-help center
- Self-help service1-718-675-8508 · richsurrhelpctr@nycourts.gov · Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PMThe Help Center explains court procedures, rules and forms to self-represented filers and gives no legal advice. It does not fill in forms; it works with the Richmond County Supreme Court Library.
County forms
- Citation and Citation Order FormsRichmond County probate, administration, general and SCPA 1411 citations, the notice to cited parties and the order for alternative service by publication.
- Guardianship Forms and VideosMock petitions, a cover letter and application steps for guardianship of an infant or of a person with a disability.
Departments
- General Clerk's Office1-718-675-8500 · 18 Richmond Terrace, 2nd Floor, Room 201
- Law Department1-718-675-8505Questions about calendared matters and conferences go to this line.
- Guardianship1-718-675-8510 · richmondguardianship@nycourts.govGuardianship fingerprinting is by appointment only. The guardianship page carries mock petitions and videos for Article 17 and 17-A guardianships.
- Records18 Richmond Terrace, Basement, Room B-3 · Monday-Friday 10:00 AM-1:00 PM and 2:00 PM-4:00 PMTitle and public searches run from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in half-hour segments for up to two people at a time. Searchers enter at the corner of Schuyler Street and Richmond Terrace.
- Satellite Site1-718-675-8500 · Charleston Library, 225 Bricktown Way, Community Room B, Staten Island, NY 10309 · richsurrsatellite@nycourts.gov · Thursday 10:30 AM-3:30 PMIn-person help with probate, administration, small estate applications and guardianship, with court clerks on site. Walk-ins are taken first come, first served, and appointments are available; parking is free.
Verified October 16, 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 months to 15 months to move through this process. Creditors have 7 monthsSCPA 1802, 1803, 1810, 1811; EPTL 11-1.5Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the opening of the estate.
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.
New York charges $45 - $1,250 (based on estate value)N.Y. SCPA § 2402(1), (2), (7)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in New York are negotiated, typically 2.5%Modeled estimate under SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 4%Modeled estimate under SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
New York sets executor compensation by statute — about $19,000 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 3.8%SCPA § 2307Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members 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%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under 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
Probate cases in Richmond County (Staten Island), New York are filed at the Surrogate's Court. The court sits in the 13th Judicial District.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for General Clerk's Office, Law Department, Guardianship, and Records.
The Help Center explains court procedures, rules and forms to self-represented filers and gives no legal advice. It does not fill in forms; it works with the Richmond County Supreme Court Library.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
In New York, informal probate is not availableSCPA § 1408 (court must inquire into all facts before admitting a will to probate)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
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
Search NYSCEF for the decedent before filing
Before an initial filing, run a NYSCEF search on the decedent's last name with the first initial, and call the court to ask whether another will is on file for safekeeping.
SourceCase name entered as signed on the will
The case name is entered exactly as the signature on the will, without punctuation or spaces. A different name on the death certificate is entered as an AKA.
SourceDocument Requirements
Original will and death certificate within 2 business days
The original will is scanned without unstapling, and the paper original is filed within two business days of e-filing. A hard-copy original death certificate is filed in the same two days; both are accepted by mail or by drop-off at 18 Richmond Terrace.
SourceOther Requirements
Stamped return envelopes with at least 2 ounces of postage
Requested documents are mailed back only in self-addressed stamped envelopes carrying at least 2 ounces of postage. Without one, documents go to the attorney pick-up bin in the clerk's office.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Surrogate's Court: Death certificate — one must be filed on any application for letters testamentary, letters of administration, or voluntary administration; alternate evidence of death may be accepted in the court's discretion (22 NYCRR 207.15(b)); Original will and any codicils (filed with the Petition for Probate) (SCPA Art. 14); Estimate of gross estate value (personal and real property, gross rents for 18 months, and any wrongful-death/personal-injury cause of action) in the petition (22 NYCRR 207.16(a)(2))N.Y. Surrogate's Court Procedure Act Art. 14 (§§ 1401-1424, probate; § 1402 who may propound will/contents of petition; § 1414 letters testamentary); Art. 10 (§ 1001 et seq., administration); Art. 13 (§§ 1301-1312, small estate)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Medical Examiner in Richmond County (Staten Island)
In New York a death is registered locally, and in Richmond County (Staten Island) certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Office of Vital Records, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Richmond County (Staten Island) as well as by New York State Department of Health - Vital Records Section.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Richmond County · Office of Vital Records, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:30 PM
Office
125 Worth Street, Room CN-4, Room 119, New York, NY 10013
Website
Certified copies
By appointment
Order online
Local rule
- The Office of Vital Records issues death certificates for deaths in the five boroughs; every in-person order needs an appointment, and the counter handles death records from 1970 on. Older records are ordered online or by mail.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $15 |
Verified November 3, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
Richmond County · Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Staten Island Family Services Center
Phone
Office
460 Brielle Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10314
Website
Serves this county
Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York
Release of remains
1-212-447-2030 · Communications Unit, family members · (press 3, then press 1) · 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Verified November 3, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Richmond County (Staten Island)
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 Richmond County (Staten Island) are recorded with the County Clerk at 130 Stuyvesant Place, 2nd Floor, Staten Island, NY 10301. Phone: 1-718-675-7700. Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The County Clerk charges $32 per document plus $2 for every page.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Richmond County (Staten Island)
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
130 Stuyvesant Place, 2nd Floor, Staten Island, NY 10301
Website
Fees
Recording fees
| Document fee (per document) | $32 |
| Each page | $2 |
| TP-584-NYC Combined Real Estate Transfer Tax Return (NYC)Not required for a TOD deed | $5 |
| RP-5217-NYC Real Property Transfer Report (Residential)Not required for a TOD deed | $125 |
| RP-5217-NYC Real Property Transfer Report (Non-Residential)Not required for a TOD deed | $250 |
| NYC-RPT NYC Real Property Transfer Tax ReturnNot required for a TOD deed | no fee on a deed; $100 to file the RPTT for non-deed transfers |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
Office of the Richmond County Clerk, "Fees and Taxes for Land Documents"; RPL § 333(3)(ii); NYC Admin Code § 11-2102
Verified October 17, 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, 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.
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.
Hylan Boulevard firm serving Richmond County families through the Richmond County Surrogate's Court at 18 Richmond Terrace. Files wills with the court, identifies and distributes estate assets, handles debts and tax obligations, and litigates will contests, executor misconduct and trustee breach-of-duty claims. Also brings Article 81 and Article 17-A guardianship petitions when no plan was in place.
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.
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.
Corporate Park of Staten Island firm serving Richmond County executors through the Richmond County Surrogate's Court. Guides executors past the mistakes that create personal liability — misattributed assets, failure to give creditors proper notice, improper distributions — and litigates will contests, contested probate and breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims, preferring negotiation to keep estate disputes out of the public record.
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
(9)·
- N.Y. SCPA § 2402(1), (2), (7)
- N.Y. Surrogate's Court Procedure Act Art. 14 (§§ 1401-1424, probate; § 1402 who may propound will/contents of petition; § 1414 letters testamentary); Art. 10 (§ 1001 et seq., administration); Art. 13 (§§ 1301-1312, small estate)
- SCPA § 1408 (court must inquire into all facts before admitting a will to probate)
- SCPA § 2307
- SCPA 1802, 1803, 1810, 1811; EPTL 11-1.5
- Office of the Richmond County Clerk, "Fees and Taxes for Land Documents"; RPL § 333(3)(ii); NYC Admin Code § 11-2102
- Staten Island Surrogate's Court, official page
- Richmond County (Staten Island) County Clerk, official page
- Richmond County (Staten Island) vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from New York statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in New York
Free tools for settling an estate in New York: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for New York.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in New York: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 270 days22 NYCRR 207.20Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 7 monthsSCPA 1802, 1803, 1810, 1811; EPTL 11-1.5Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 7 months to 9 months.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in New York happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's trust statuteN.Y. EPTL Article 7Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
Can I Self-File Probate?
In New York, informal probate is not availableSCPA § 1408 (court must inquire into all facts before admitting a will to probate)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
Get the Answer
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