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.
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 Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and notary acknowledgmentN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
Where to Record Property Documents
Deeds and other real property documents for Rockland County are recorded with the County Clerk at 1 South Main Street, Suite 100, New City, NY 10956. Phone: 1-845-638-5070. 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.
Rockland County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC and ePN.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Rockland County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Thursday 7:00 AM-6:00 PM; Friday 7:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
1 South Main Street, Suite 100, New City, NY 10956
Website
E-recording
Fax
1-845-638-5647
Recording fees
| Document fee (per document) | $45 |
| Each page | $5 |
| TP-584 Combined Real Estate Transfer Tax ReturnNot required for a TOD deed | $6 |
| RP-5217 Real Property Transfer Report (Residential/Agricultural)Not required for a TOD deed | $125 |
| RP-5217 Real Property Transfer Report (Commercial/Other)Not required for a TOD deed | $250 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
CPLR § 8021(a)(4) (county-adjustable); RPL § 333(3)(ii) (RP-5217 filing fee); county-published fee schedules
Verified October 17, 2026 · Source
Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Rockland 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
(2)·
- N.Y. Real Prop. Law 424
- CPLR § 8021(a)(4) (county-adjustable); RPL § 333(3)(ii) (RP-5217 filing fee); county-published fee schedules
Data sourced from New York statutes and official state code. How we research.
Forms for Planning Your Estate in New York
Free forms for planning your estate in New York: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for New York.
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Last Will and Testament
In New York, a will is signed before 2EPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyEPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
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Codicil to a Will
In New York, a codicil is signed before 2EPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, like a will, and the self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonySCPA §§ 103(52), 1406Verified Oct 25, 2026View source.
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Free
Healthcare Power of Attorney
New York requires 2NY PHL § 2981(5)(d)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not requiredNY PHL § 2981(5)(d)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source.
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HIPAA Release
In New York, a HIPAA release names who may receive your records and, as the state requires, names HIV/AIDS-related information and genetic informationN.Y. Pub. Health Law §§ 2780(9), 2782(5)(a) (Article 27-F); NY DOH Form DOH-2557 (Rev. 2/11); N.Y. Civ. Rights Law § 79-l(2)(b), (2)(c), (2)(d), (3)(a)Verified Jun 19, 2026View source expressly before a provider releases them.
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Financial Power of Attorney
New York treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultNY GOL §§ 5-1501, 5-1501A, 5-1501B, 5-1502A through 5-1502N, 5-1504, 5-1512, 5-1513Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed before 2NY GOL §§ 5-1501, 5-1501A, 5-1501B, 5-1502A through 5-1502N, 5-1504, 5-1512, 5-1513Verified Sep 18, 2026View source witnesses and a notary.
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Free
Transfer on Death Deed
In New York, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 19, 2026View source and 2N.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. New York does not recognize a Lady Bird deed.
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Free
Pour-Over Will
In New York, a pour-over will is signed before 2EPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
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Tools for Planning Your Estate in New York
Free tools for planning your estate in New York: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for New York and read its answer.
How Do I Sign Estate Documents?
In New York, a will is signed before 2EPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredEPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
Check the Rules
Will My Estate Documents Transfer?
New York recognizes a will signed under the law of the place where it was signedEPTL § 3-5.1(c)Verified Oct 19, 2026View source; a will signed in New York itself needs 2EPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredEPTL § 3-2.1Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
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Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
In New York, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of 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 the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
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How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in New York runs $4,250Estimate: 10 hours at $425, Clio's New York Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $6,375Estimate: 15 hours at $425, Clio's New York Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
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How Much Does a Will Cost?
An attorney-prepared will in New York runs $1,344Estimate: 3 hours at $448, Clio's New York Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,688Estimate: 6 hours at $448, Clio's New York Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $299 up front with an online service, and probate on a $500,000 estate adds about $35,992SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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How Does SimplyTrust Compare to LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Other Services?
Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.
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How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children?
In New York, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a will or a separate signed writingN.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 81; N.Y. SCPA §§ 1707, 1710Verified Sep 16, 2026View source, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18N.Y. SCPA § 1707(2); N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 81Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.
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Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
Probate in New York takes 7 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of 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 the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
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New York Estate Planning Articles
Estate planning articles for New York.
