Tools for Estate Executors in New York

Probate on a $500,000 estate in New York costs an estimated $35,992. Attorney fees run 2.5% to 4% of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.

All Planning ahead Settling an estate

14 tools for New York

How Much Does Probate Cost?

Probate on a $500,000 estate in New York costs an estimated $35,992. Attorney fees run 2.5% to 4% of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.

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How Much Can an Executor Charge?

New York sets executor compensation by statute — about $19,000 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 3.8%.

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Do I Need Probate?

In New York, estates with personal property of $50,000 or less use the Voluntary Administration, a court filing short of full probate.

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What Are the Estate Laws in My State?

Probate on a $500,000 estate in New York costs an estimated $35,992 and takes 7 months to 9 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees of typically 2.5% to 4% of the estate. Estates under $50,000 can use a small-estate procedure instead.

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What Are the Burial and Cremation Laws in My State?

New York allows you to name your own agent in a signed, written document, and that designation takes priority over the statutory order of next of kin who otherwise control disposition of the remains.

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How Do I Sign Estate Documents?

Find witness, notary, and remote signing requirements for all 50 states.

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Will My Estate Documents Transfer?

Check if estate planning documents signed in one state are valid in another.

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Can I Self-File Probate?

In New York, informal probate is not available, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.

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How Do I Get Appointed as Executor?

In New York, the Surrogate's Court appoints the personal representative and the Surrogate's Court issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration; every appointment goes through the court.

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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?

In New York, the 7 months period after the personal representative's appointment protects a representative who distributes after it; late claims can still reach undistributed assets.

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What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent?

When an estate owes more than it holds, New York pays the claims in 6 classes in statutory order, beginning with administration expenses.

Check the Payment Order

How Do I Open an Estate Account When Someone Dies?

Compare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.

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Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?

New York requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,000.

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What Is the Estate's Personal Property Worth for Probate?

Estimate the fair market value of household items for probate and see how it affects fees.

Estimate Value

Probate costs in New York typically include attorney fees of typically 2.5% to 4% of the estate, executor fees, and court filing fees. On a $500,000 estate, total costs run about $35,992, roughly 7% of estate value, varying with complexity. Estimate executor compensation separately with the New York executor fee calculator.

New York uses Petition for Probate (P-1), filed with the Surrogate's Court. Surrogate's Court issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration after the court grants the petition.

The creditor claim period of 7 months protects the personal representative who distributes after it; it is not a bar, and late claims can still reach undistributed assets. Distributing assets before the period has run can leave the executor personally liable for a claim that arrives later.

New York sets executor compensation by statute — about $19,000 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 3.8%. The fee applies to the gross value of the probate estate; executors and beneficiaries may agree to a different amount, but the schedule is the default. Executors can waive the fee entirely or accept a reduced amount.

Yes. A self-represented person can file probate in New York, though informal probate is not available, so the opening is a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing. Many New York courts publish self-help resources and standardized forms for that petition.

Tools for Estate Executors in New York

The executor of an estate is the person a will names to carry out its terms; without a will, the probate court appoints an administrator to the same role. The court issues letters testamentary or letters of administration, and those letters are what banks and title companies accept as the executor's authority. From there the executor gathers and values the assets, notifies creditors, pays debts and taxes, files the estate's returns, accounts to the court and beneficiaries, and distributes what remains. The executor is paid from the estate at a rate set by state law.

New York sets executor compensation by statute — about $19,000 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 3.8%. In New York, creditors have 7 months to present claims after notice, the inventory is due within 270 days of appointment, and the personal representative is discharged by court order.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated September 15, 2026

Legal Sources

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Data sourced from New York statutes and official state code. How we research.