Estate Planning for Rockland County, New York Property Owners

For most Rockland 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 Rockland 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 Rockland 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, Rockland 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 Rockland County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Rockland 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 Rockland County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk Donna G. Silberman, at 1 South Main Street, Suite 100, New City, NY 10956. Phone: (845) 638-5070. Hours: Monday - Thursday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Friday 7:00 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 Rockland County comes to $55. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Rockland County · County Clerk · Donna G. Silberman

Address

1 South Main Street, Suite 100New City, NY 10956

Fax

(845) 638-5647

Hours

Monday - Thursday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Friday 7:00 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 Rockland County

FirmRye Brook, NY

Amoruso & Amoruso LLP

Serves 3 counties

Rye Brook (Westchester County) firm serving Westchester, Putnam and Rockland families, including Carmel and Brewster. Handles probate administration, estate administration, trust administration and guardianship, alongside wills, trusts, Medicaid and long-term-care planning, and special-needs planning. Its two founders hold nearly six decades of combined experience.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 5 more

Office
800 Westchester Avenue, Suite N-605Rye Brook, NY 10573

Solo PracticeNew City, NY

Davis and Davis

Since 1986 · Serves 1 county

New City firm handling Rockland County probate and administration proceedings in the Surrogate's Court, where an executor is appointed under a will or an administrator when someone dies intestate. Also carries trust planning and administration, guardianship petitions for incapacitated adults, and Medicaid asset-protection trusts. Charles G. Davis is certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 6 more

Office
20 Squadron Boulevard, Suite 330New City, NY 10956

FirmWhite Plains, NY

Gould & Berg, LLP

Serves 3 counties

White Plains firm serving Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties. Submits a recently deceased relative's estate for probate or administration in the Surrogate's Court and carries the transfer of assets through, then litigates will contests and other estate disputes, using alternative dispute resolution where a probate fight would drain the estate. Drafts wills, powers of attorney, health care proxies and living wills alongside the firm's employment and civil-rights practice.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateProbate Litigation

Office
222 Bloomingdale Road, Suite 304White Plains, NY 10605

Solo PracticeNyack, NY

Klose & Associates, P.C.

Since 1973 · Serves 3 counties

Nyack general practice serving Rockland, Dutchess, and Westchester, whose wills and probate side guides executors and administrators through settling an estate and shields the fiduciary from personal liability. Handles intestate administrations, where the fiduciary allocates real and personal property by statute, and probate disputes, including offering a copy of a lost will for probate under SCPA 1407.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbate Litigation

Office
99 Main Street, Suite 206Nyack, NY 10960
Free consultation

FirmBrewster, NY

Law Office of Andres D. Gil, PLLC

Serves 4 counties

Brewster firm representing Lower Hudson Valley families across Putnam, Dutchess, Westchester and Rockland counties. Carries executors and administrators through every stage of estate administration — the probate court filings, the deadlines and the disputes among beneficiaries — and litigates will disputes and accounting disputes, alongside Article 81 guardianship petitions and trust administration for trustees. Principal Andres D. Gil is a combat veteran and former assistant district attorney.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 6 more

Office
973 NY-22, Suite 3Brewster, NY 10509
Free consultation

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
See all 23 firms serving Rockland 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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