Estate Planning for Westchester County, New York Property Owners

For most Westchester 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 Westchester 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 Westchester 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 Westchester County

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

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Westchester County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk Thomas Roach, at 110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., White Plains, NY 10601. Phone: (914) 995-3080. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.

The County Clerk charges $45 per document plus $5 for every page. A 2-page transfer on death deed costs $55 to record in Westchester County. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Westchester County accepts electronic recording.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Westchester County · County Clerk · Thomas Roach

Address

110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.White Plains, NY 10601

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

E-recording

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

Verified September 8, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Westchester County

FirmRye Brook, NY

Amoruso & Amoruso LLP

Serves 3 counties

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 5 more

Office
800 Westchester Avenue, Suite N-605Rye Brook, NY 10573

Solo PracticeCarmel, NY

Cory A. Levine, Attorney at Law

Serves 3 counties

Carmel solo practice filing directly with the Putnam County Surrogate's Court, which sits in the same town. Files the original will and probate petition, notifies every legal heir and beneficiary, marshals and inventories the estate's assets, settles valid debts and the final state and federal returns, and completes the formal transfer of property to the beneficiaries.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateBusiness LawReal Estate

Office
1834 Route 6Carmel, NY 10512

FirmElmsford, NY

Ely J. Rosenzveig & Associates, P.C.

Since 2010 · Serves 1 county

Elmsford firm, formerly in White Plains, guiding Westchester executors through probate in the Surrogate's Court of the county where the decedent lived. Walks the executor through the probate petition and death certificate, publication and citation notice to distributees, inventorying and appraising property, paying creditors, distributing the residue, and filing the estate's income, gift and estate tax returns. Both principals are trained mediators who try to settle beneficiary disputes before litigating them.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 6 more

Office
570 Taxter Road, Suite 600Elmsford, NY 10523

FirmWhite Plains, NY

Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP

Since 2004 · Serves 1 county

White Plains elder law and estate firm with a second office in Somers, serving the greater Westchester County area through the Surrogate's Court. Files the will and petitions for letters testamentary, values estate assets, notifies beneficiaries, works with the family accountant on estate tax returns and distributes the estate; where there is no will, petitions for letters of administration instead. Nine attorneys, and its guardianship practice covers Article 81 guardianship of an incapacitated adult as well as 17-A special needs guardianships.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more

Office
245 Main Street, Suite 500White Plains, NY 10601

FirmWhite Plains, NY

Gould & Berg, LLP

Serves 3 counties

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateProbate Litigation

Office
222 Bloomingdale Road, Suite 304White Plains, NY 10605

FirmYonkers, NY

James G. Dibbini & Associates, P.C.

Serves 1 county

Yonkers firm representing Westchester executors and administrators from the first Surrogate's Court filing through the order closing the estate. Handles the probate petition for letters testamentary or the administration petition for letters of administration, determines distributees and creditors, prepares the inventory and family tree affidavits, pays debts and distributes property. Also litigates contested accountings and will contests.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more

Office
570 Yonkers AvenueYonkers, NY 10704
See all 41 firms serving Westchester 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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