Estate Planning for Suffolk County, New York Property Owners

For most Suffolk 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.

Record a TOD deedWhere to recordLocal attorneys

For a Suffolk 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 Suffolk 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, Suffolk 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 Suffolk County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Suffolk 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.

Create a New YorkTOD deed →Suffolk Countysigning requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Suffolk County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk Vincent Puleo, at 310 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY 11901. Phone: (631) 852-2000. Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 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 Suffolk County comes to $55. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Suffolk County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, eRecording Partners Network (ePN), CSC eRecording Solutions.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Suffolk County · County Clerk · Vincent Puleo

Address

310 Center DriveRiverhead, NY 11901

Fax

(631) 852-2004

Hours

Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

E-recording

Available via Simplifile, eRecording Partners Network (ePN), CSC eRecording SolutionsE-recording info →
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

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Verified September 8, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Suffolk County

FirmLake Success, NY

Abrams Fensterman, LLP

Since 2000 · Serves 9 counties

Lake Success (Nassau County) firm guiding executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries through New York Surrogate's Court — probate, estate and trust administration, and contested estates and objections to a will or to fiduciary conduct. Also handles estate planning, retirement-distribution planning, Medicaid and elder law. Absorbed the Berwitz & DiTata estate practice.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 6 more

Office
3 Dakota Drive, Suite 300Lake Success, NY 11042

FirmJericho, NY

Adler Law Firm, PLLC

Serves 2 counties

Jericho (Nassau County) firm filing for Long Island families in the Nassau and Suffolk Surrogate's Courts. Handles probate, letters of administration and estate administration, wills and trusts, trustee and beneficiary representation, elder law and special-needs planning. Attorneys handle each case personally rather than passing it to staff.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 4 more

Office
390 North Broadway, Suite 200Jericho, NY 11753

FirmEast Setauket, NY

Burner Prudenti Law, P.C.

Since 1995 · Serves 2 counties

East Setauket (Suffolk County) firm with three more Long Island and Manhattan offices, practicing in trusts and estates, elder law and real estate. Walks executors and administrators through a Surrogate's Court file: the petition to appoint, waivers and consents from distributees under EPTL 4-1.1, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, the estate account and asset inventory, creditor payment, estate taxes, releases and the final accounting. Also handles objections to a will, guardianship, and Medicaid and long-term-care planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more

Office
12 Research WayEast Setauket, NY 11733

Solo PracticeWoodbury, NY

C. Haner Law, PLLC

Serves 2 counties

Woodbury solo handling Nassau County probate through the Surrogate's Court in Mineola. Haner files probate petitions, gets executors appointed under letters testamentary, and brings compulsory-accounting and will-contest proceedings when a fiduciary refuses to account. The site carries fourteen plain-language Surrogate's Court explainers covering citations, renunciations, temporary administration and venue.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more

Office
7600 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 301Woodbury, NY 11797

Solo PracticeSetauket, NY

David J. Lorber & Associates, PLLC

Since 2019 · Serves 7 counties

Setauket (Suffolk County) practice handling probate, estate administration, and trust and estate litigation in the Surrogate's Court, serving Long Island and the New York metro area. Drafts wills, trusts, and special-needs and business-succession plans, and brings adult guardianship proceedings, with phone, virtual, and office consultations offered at no charge.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateTrust Litigationand 3 more

Office
100 North Country RoadSetauket, NY 11733
Free consultationVirtual consultations

Solo PracticeMineola, NY

Eric M. Kutner, Certified Public Accountant & Attorney at Law

Serves 7 counties

Mineola attorney-CPA handling Nassau County estate settlement in the Surrogate's Court. Kutner takes administrators through probate and through the non-probate transfers that sit outside it, including estates holding real property in more than one county, and serves as executor and trustee himself. He also oversees the trust, estate and tax departments of a Manhattan firm as of counsel.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateTax Planningand 2 more

Office
200 Old Country Road, Suite 364Mineola, NY 11501
See all 34 firms serving Suffolk 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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