Estate Planning for Tompkins County, New York Property Owners

For most Tompkins 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 Tompkins 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 Tompkins 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.

Skipping this planning step means the Surrogate's Court decides who receives the property: a simple New York probate takes 7+ months and opens with $45 in court filing fees.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Tompkins County

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

Create a New York TOD deed →Tompkins County signing requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Tompkins County are recorded with the County Clerk at 320 North Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850. Phone: 1-607-274-5431. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:30 PM.

The County Clerk charges $45 per document plus $5 for every page. A 2-page transfer on death deed is $55 in recording fees, before any required forms the office charges for. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Tompkins County accepts electronic recording through CSC, Simplifile and ePN.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Tompkins County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:30 PM

Office

320 North Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850

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Fees

Recording fees

Document fee (per document)$45
Each page$5
TP-584 Combined Real Estate Transfer Tax ReturnNot required for a TOD deed$5
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
Deed Notice Fee (RPL § 291)Required with most deeds$10
Transfer tax on a TOD deedTOD 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 Tompkins County

FirmBinghamton, NY

Garufi Law P.C.

Since 1991 · Serves 8 counties

Binghamton general practice whose service area runs across the Sixth Judicial District, including the Chenango County courts in Norwich as well as Broome, Chemung, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga and Tompkins counties. Handles wills, probate, guardianship, health care proxies and powers of attorney alongside family law, real estate and civil litigation. Founded in 1991.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipFamily Lawand 2 more

Office
68 Oak Street, Second FloorBinghamton, NY 13905

FirmVestal, NY

Levene Gouldin & Thompson, LLP

Since 1927 · Serves 4 counties

Vestal firm outside Binghamton with offices in Ithaca, Whitney Point, and Montrose, Pennsylvania. Its trusts and estates group supports executors, trustees, and beneficiaries through estate and trust administration and contested and uncontested probate, and its litigators handle estate controversies. Best Lawyers ranks it the region's only first-tier Trusts & Estates firm; founded in 1927.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more

Office
450 Plaza DriveVestal, NY 13850

FirmCorning, NY

Rossettie Rosettie & Martino LLP

Since 1979 · Serves 5 counties

Corning firm (Steuben County) serving the Southern Tier since 1979, with seven attorneys. Its trusts and estates practice covers estates, probate and administration, guardianship proceedings, wills, special needs trusts, powers of attorney and health care proxies, plus Medicaid planning and applications.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more

Office
269 West Pulteney StreetCorning, NY 14830

Solo PracticeIthaca, NY

Silverberg Law Office

Serves 1 county

Solo practice at 505 Snyder Hill Road in Ithaca, near East Hill Plaza at the corner of Quarry Road, serving Ithaca, Dryden, Caroline and other nearby communities. Handles wills and trusts, estate planning, powers of attorney and health care proxies, alongside residential real estate closings and business formation.

PracticesEstate Planning

Office
505 Snyder Hill RoadIthaca, NY 14850
Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmIthaca, NY

The Law Office of Serenna L. McCloud, Esq., PLLC

Serves 1 county

Ithaca firm representing executors and beneficiaries in Tompkins County Surrogate's Court proceedings. The practice files the probate and administration petitions that open an estate, handles petitions for recovery of real property, and represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries through the administration. Estate work sits alongside residential and commercial real estate closings for the same Ithaca-area families.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawSpecial Needs Planningand 2 more

Office
310 N. Aurora St., 2nd FloorIthaca, NY 14850
Free consultation

FirmElmira, NY

DeFilippo Law Firm P.L.L.C.

Since 1934

Elmira (Chemung County) firm on West Water Street, serving the Elmira area since 1934 and now in its third generation under James E. DeFilippo. Represents executors and trustees through estate and trust administration — protecting assets for beneficiaries, collecting outstanding assets and income, paying valid bills, filing federal and state estate, gift and fiduciary income tax returns, calculating tax basis for beneficiaries and filing court reports. Also prepares wills, lifetime trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies and lifetime transfers of the home with a reserved life use.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateReal Estate

Office
1225 West Water Street, Suite 1Elmira, NY 14905
See all 11 firms serving Tompkins 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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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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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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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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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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$12/month

Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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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.

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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?

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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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