What to Do When Someone Dies in Sullivan County, New York
Probate in Sullivan County runs through the Surrogate's Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Sullivan County, settling their estate runs through the Surrogate's Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Surrogate's Court
Sullivan County · 3rd Judicial District
Address
Sullivan County Government Center, 100 North StreetMonticello, NY 12701
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneysSelf-filing allowed
Accepted paymentCredit card. This court accepts payment of fees by credit card via NYSCEF or by payment made at the court. There are no fees to use the NYSCEF System. Fees calculated under SCPA § 2402.
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 Sullivan County, probate runs through the Surrogate's Court at Sullivan County Government Center, 100 North Street, Monticello. The court sits in the 3rd Judicial District. Sullivan County uses nycourts.gov for probate e-filing, while most New York counties file through iappscontent.courts.state.ny.us.
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. The 7 monthsSCPA § 1802Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Sullivan County
What probate costs in Sullivan County, 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 Sullivan County Government Center, 100 North Street, Monticello. The court is part of the 3rd Judicial District.
New York charges $45 - $1,250 (based on estate value)N.Y. SCPA § 2402(1), (2), (7)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Surrogate's Court (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacypdfs/COURTS/3jd/sullivan/Sullivan%20Co%20Surrogates%20Court%20Protocols.pdf). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in New York are negotiated, typically 2.5%SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 4%SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is also statutory in New York. Family executors 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%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
If you're handling probate yourself in Sullivan County, New York, you can file at the Surrogate's Court in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the 3rd Judicial District.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Sullivan County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Surrogate's Court is realistic.
Proposed decrees and orders must be e-filed through NYSCEF only. Once signed, the court uploads the signed version to NYSCEF, notifying all consenting parties.
Letters and certificates of appointment are provided in hard copy via SASE, USPS, or messenger. Certified copies of decrees/orders requested and paid for via NYSCEF are mailed first class.
Credit card. This court accepts payment of fees by credit card via NYSCEF or by payment made at the court. There are no fees to use the NYSCEF System. Fees calculated under SCPA § 2402.
What to Bring
To file at the Surrogate's Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Sullivan County
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 Sullivan County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk Russell Reeves, at 100 North Street, County Government Center, Monticello, NY 12701. Phone: (845) 807-0411. Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 4:45 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to PO Box 5012, Monticello, NY 12701.
The County Clerk charges $45 per document plus $5 for every page.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Sullivan County · County Clerk · Russell Reeves
Address
100 North Street, County Government CenterMonticello, NY 12701Mailing: PO Box 5012, Monticello, NY 12701
New York uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Sullivan County — 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 — typically 2.5%SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 4%SCPA § 2110 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Sullivan County 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.
Goshen (Orange County) firm with a second office in Monticello, in Sullivan County. Its wealth-preservation group sees that a decedent's assets are distributed correctly and on time through probate for individually owned property and trust administration for assets passing under a trust instrument, and takes on guardianships; its litigation group handles estate and trust disputes among heirs. Most of its attorneys have been named to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers list.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 6 more
Goshen solo practice a few minutes from the Orange County Surrogate's Court, also serving Ulster, Sullivan and Rockland. Walks a surviving spouse or child through being appointed executor or administrator, marshaling scattered accounts, filing the inventory, paying creditors and taxes, filing the decedent's final return and the estate return, and filing the final account with the court. Former chairman of the Orange County Bar Association Elder Law Committee.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more
Newburgh firm in New York's lower Hudson Valley, established in 1827. Advises executors and administrators through probate: filing the will with the court, locating beneficiaries, assembling and transferring assets, paying creditors and taxes, and distributing property to beneficiaries. Also handles probate disputes between beneficiaries, challenging invalid wills or defending valid ones in court.
Walton office (Delaware County) of a three-office firm serving the Catskills, Upper Delaware River Valley and Mid-Hudson regions, opened after the firm identified a critical need for legal services in Delaware County. Handles Surrogate's Court work: probate, administration, estate and trust administration, spousal elective share claims, and guardianships.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbate Litigationand 2 more
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
Bronx firm on East Tremont Avenue with an appointment-only New Rochelle office, serving Bronx, Westchester, Manhattan and Queens families since 1989. Walks executors and administrators through filing the will and petition with the Surrogate's Court, getting appointed, notifying heirs, beneficiaries and creditors, collecting and valuing assets, paying debts, taxes and expenses, and distributing what remains. Also takes contested probate - will contests, undue-influence claims, disputes over asset ownership and challenges to executor authority - plus trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and Medicaid and special-needs planning. Consultations are free and the firm practices in Spanish.
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.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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Sullivan County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Sullivan County, New York.
