For most Schoharie 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 Schoharie 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 Schoharie 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, Schoharie County property passes through the Surrogate's Court — even simple New York probates run 7+ months and start with $45 in filing fees.
A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Schoharie 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.
Deeds and other real property documents for Schoharie County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk Lawrence J. Caza, at 284 Main Street, 1st Floor, County Office Building, Schoharie, NY 12157. Phone: (518) 295-8316. Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM; Legal filing ends at 4:30 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 549, Schoharie, NY 12157.
The County Clerk charges $45 per document plus $5 for every page. Recording a 2-page transfer on death deed in Schoharie County comes to $55. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.
Recording Office Record
Schoharie County · County Clerk · Lawrence J. Caza
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
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 deed | Exempt |
CPLR § 8021(a)(4) (county-adjustable); RPL § 333(3)(ii) (RP-5217 filing fee); county-published fee schedules
Verified September 8, 2026 · Source
Solo PracticeSchoharie, NY
Solo practitioner on Main Street in the village of Schoharie, the county seat and the seat of the Schoharie County Surrogate's Court. Therese A. Wright has been admitted in New York since 1984 and registers her office there with the state court system. The practice publishes no website, so call the office directly.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate Administration
FirmCobleskill, NY
General practice office at 2668 State Route 7 in Cobleskill, serving Schoharie County. Handles probate and estate matters alongside real estate and litigation; both attorneys also hold municipal counsel roles in the county, as Schoharie County Attorney and as town attorney.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate Administration
FirmUtica, NY
Utica (Oneida County) firm handling probates and trust administration — proving the will and distributing property and assets under the will through a court-supervised process it puts at seven months to several years, and following a trust's instructions after the grantor's death without court oversight. Also covers wills and trusts, powers of attorney and health care proxies, Medicaid and long-term-care planning, and special-needs planning and guardianships for adults with a disability.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 4 more
Solo PracticeSchenectady, NY
Schenectady solo practice serving families through the Schenectady County Surrogate's Court and four neighbouring counties. The office locates and values estate property, collects investment income, determines payment of claims, debts and taxes, prepares estate tax returns and distributes property to beneficiaries. Will challenges based on capacity, execution, undue influence or duress are handled in-house.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
FirmLatham, NY
Capital Region trusts and estates practice in Latham, with offices in New York City, Garden City, Hudson and Lake Placid and more than 280 years of combined attorney experience. Handles estate and trust administration, probate, estate and trust litigation, guardianship under Article 81 and 17-A, Medicaid and special needs planning, and tax planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationTrust Litigationand 5 more
FirmBinghamton, NY
Binghamton (Broome County) firm tracing its lineage to 1898, with seven New York offices from Ithaca to Walton. Its trusts, estates and elder law group counsels executors, administrators and trustees through estate and trust administration, obtains Letters Testamentary and Letters of Administration, and litigates disputed executor appointments in Surrogate's Court.
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.
Data sourced from New York statutes and official state code. How we research.
Estate planning articles for New York.
Forms and tools for property owners in Schoharie County.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Create a free, state-specific will with witness and notarization requirements included.
Transfer assets to your existing trust. State execution requirements included.
Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate.
Designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf.
Designate someone to manage your financial affairs.
Answer questions about your estate size, real estate ownership, marital status, and family situation to see how a revocable trust compares to a will alone. Includes estimated probate costs for your state.
Answer questions about your property type, ownership structure, and estate plan to see if a TOD deed is the right approach. Includes state-specific availability, signing requirements, and recording fees.
Compare trusts vs wills for your specific situation. See probate costs, trust administration expenses, and whether your estate qualifies for simplified procedures based on your state and estate value.
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
Compare the cost of creating a revocable living trust. See how SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys compare over 5 years including life events.
Estate planning articles for New York.
