General Surrogate’s Court Information

Each county of New York State has a Surrogate’s Court. The court deals with all types of matters related to decedents and their estates. It also handles certain types of guardianship proceedings and adoptions. For specific information on each Surrogate’s Court go to: Nassau County; Suffolk County, Queens County; New York County (Manhattan); Bronx County; Richmond County (Staten Island); Kings County (Brooklyn). Examples of matters that may be heard by the Surrogate’s Court: Probate - Proving the validity of a decedent’s last will and testament and appointment of an executor (issuance of Letters Testamentary). The court also handles will contests. Administration - If a person died without a Will (intestate), an Administration proceeding is the process by which a person is appointed to collect and distribute asset. Also known as an intestate proceeding (issuance of Letters of Administration). Voluntary Administration - (small estate administration) A simplified process of settling the estate of a decedent whose assets, in the decedent’s name alone, do not exceed $50,000 in value. Voluntary Letters of Administration cannot be used to administer real property. Accounting - if required, the fiduciary of an estate or trust files an accounting of his or her acts with the Surrogate’s Court and asks that they be discharged from further liability. Guardianship - the court presides over two types of guardianships: 1. Appointment of a guardian of a minor’s (child under 18 years of age) person, and/or of his or her property. 2. Appointment of a guardian over a mentally-retarded person or over a developmentally disabled individual person and/or property. There is no age restriction under this provision. Adoptions - the Surrogate’s court handles the following matters: 1. Infant adoptions arranged directly between the parties or with the aid of a private adoption agency. 2. Step-parent adoptions where the new partner or spouse adopts in conjunction with the birth or prior adoptive parent. 3. Family adoptions (e.g., adoption by grandparent(s) or other family members). 4. Adult adoptions where the person to be adopted is over the age of 18. 5. Foreign adoptions - usually foreign countries finalize adoptions before the new parents and child(ren) return to the U.S. While it is not required to do a re-adoption, adoptive parents may consider the benefit of a U.S. birth certificate being issued for the child. Miscellaneous Proceedings - the court presides over various types of estate and trust litigation. For example: compelling a fiduciary to account; removal of a fiduciary, surcharge a fiduciary for improper acts, setting legal fees, determine spouse’s right of election, will and trust construction, etc.

Surrogate’s Court Filing Fees

The filing fees shown below apply to all Surrogate’s Courts throughout the State of New York. The fees for filing a petition for probate, administration or accounting are calculated on the gross estate passing by will or intestacy, as follows:

SURROGATE’S COURT GUIDE - NEW YORK'S PROBATE COURTS

Fee for filing: A demand for trial by jury in any proceeding, SCPA 502 - $150.00 Objections to the probate of a will SCPA 1410 - $150.00 A note of issue in any proceeding - $45.00 Objection or answer in any action or proceeding other than probate - $75.00 A will for safekeeping pursuant to section 2507 of this act except that the court in any county may reduce or dispense with such fee - $45.00 A bond, including any additional bond: less than $10,000 - $20.00; 10,000 and over - $30.00 Source: New York Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act §2402 This Web site is not affiliated with the Surrogate’s Courts of New York State or the New York Unified Court System. The information on this Web page is provided for the convenience of our visitors.
NY Surrogate’s Court Filing Fees
Value of Estate or Matter
Fee
Less than $10,000
$45.00
10,000 but under 20,000
75.00
20,000 but under 50,000
215.00
50,000 but under 100,000
280.00
100,000 but under 250,000
420.00
250,000 but under 500,000
625.00
500,000 and over
1250.00
For filing a petition to commence the following proceedings, the fee is as indicated:
STATUTE
Proceeding
Fee
SCPA 607
Punish for contempt
30.00
SCPA 711
Suspend, modify, revoke letters or remove a fiduciary other than a custodian or guardian
75.00
SCPA 711
Suspend, modify, revoke letters or remove a custodian or guardian
30.00
SCPA 715
Application of fiduciary to resign
30.00
SCPA 717
Suspend powers-fiduciary in war
30.00
SCPA 1401
Compel production of will
20.00
SCPA 1420
Construction of will
75.00
SCPA 1421
Determination of right of election
75.00
SCPA 1502
Appointment of trustee
45.00
SCPA 1508
Release against state
50.00
SCPA 1703
Appointment of guardian
20.00
SCPA 2003
Open safe deposit box
20.00
SCPA 2102
Proceedings against a fiduciary
20.00
SCPA 2103
Proceedings by fiduciary to discover property
75.00
SCPA 2107
Advice and directions
75.00
SCPA 2108
Continue business
45.00
SCPA 2114
Review corporate trustee compensation
10.00
SCPA 2205
Petition to compel fiduciary to account
30.00
EPTL 7-4.6
Appointment of successor custodian
20.00

General Surrogate’s Court

Information

Each county of New York State has a Surrogate’s Court. The court deals with all types of matters related to decedents and their estates. It also handles certain types of guardianship proceedings and adoptions. For specific information on each Surrogate’s Court go to: Nassau County; Suffolk County, Queens County; New York County (Manhattan); Bronx County; Richmond County (Staten Island); Kings County (Brooklyn). Examples of matters that may be heard by the Surrogate’s Court: Probate - Proving the validity of a decedent’s last will and testament and appointment of an executor (issuance of Letters Testamentary). The court also handles will contests. Administration - If a person died without a Will (intestate), an Administration proceeding is the process by which a person is appointed to collect and distribute asset. Also known as an intestate proceeding (issuance of Letters of Administration). Voluntary Administration - (small estate administration) A simplified process of settling the estate of a decedent whose assets, in the decedent’s name alone, do not exceed $50,000 in value. Voluntary Letters of Administration cannot be used to administer real property. Accounting - if required, the fiduciary of an estate or trust files an accounting of his or her acts with the Surrogate’s Court and asks that they be discharged from further liability. Guardianship - the court presides over two types of guardianships: 1. Appointment of a guardian of a minor’s (child under 18 years of age) person, and/or of his or her property. 2. Appointment of a guardian over a mentally- retarded person or over a developmentally disabled individual person and/or property. There is no age restriction under this provision. Adoptions - the Surrogate’s court handles the following matters: 1. Infant adoptions arranged directly between the parties or with the aid of a private adoption agency. 2. Step-parent adoptions where the new partner or spouse adopts in conjunction with the birth or prior adoptive parent. 3. Family adoptions (e.g., adoption by grandparent(s) or other family members). 4. Adult adoptions where the person to be adopted is over the age of 18. 5. Foreign adoptions - usually foreign countries finalize adoptions before the new parents and child(ren) return to the U.S. While it is not required to do a re-adoption, adoptive parents may consider the benefit of a U.S. birth certificate being issued for the child. Miscellaneous Proceedings - the court presides over various types of estate and trust litigation. For example: compelling a fiduciary to account; removal of a fiduciary, surcharge a fiduciary for improper acts, setting legal fees, determine spouse’s right of election, will and trust construction, etc.

Surrogate’s Court Filing Fees

The filing fees shown below apply to all Surrogate’s Courts throughout the State of New York. The fees for filing a petition for probate, administration or accounting are calculated on the gross estate passing by will or intestacy, as follows:

SURROGATE’S COURT GUIDE -

NEW YORK'S PROBATE COURTS

2023 Attorney Advertising. Privacy Policy
Fee for filing: A demand for trial by jury in any proceeding, SCPA 502 - $150.00 Objections to the probate of a will SCPA 1410 - $150.00 A note of issue in any proceeding - $45.00 Objection or answer in any action or proceeding other than probate - $75.00 A will for safekeeping pursuant to section 2507 of this act except that the court in any county may reduce or dispense with such fee - $45.00 A bond, including any additional bond: less than $10,000 - $20.00; 10,000 and over - $30.00 Source: New York Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act §2402 This Web site is not affiliated with the Surrogate’s Courts of New York State or the New York Unified Court System. The information on this Web page is provided for the convenience of our visitors.
NY Surrogate’s Court Filing Fees
Value of Estate or Matter
Fee
Less than $10,000
$45.00
10,000 but under 20,000
75.00
20,000 but under 50,000
215.00
50,000 but under 100,000
280.00
100,000 but under 250,000
420.00
250,000 but under 500,000
625.00
500,000 and over
1250.00
For filing a petition to commence the following proceedings, the fee is as indicated:
STATUTE
Proceeding
Fee
SCPA 607
Punish for contempt
30.00
SCPA 711
Suspend, modify, revoke letters or remove a fiduciary other than a custodian or guardian
75.00
SCPA 711
Suspend, modify, revoke letters or remove a custodian or guardian
30.00
SCPA 715
Application of fiduciary to resign
30.00
SCPA 717
Suspend powers-fiduciary in war
30.00
SCPA 1401
Compel production of will
20.00
SCPA 1420
Construction of will
75.00
SCPA 1421
Determination of right of election
75.00
SCPA 1502
Appointment of trustee
45.00
SCPA 1508
Release against state
50.00
SCPA 1703
Appointment of guardian
20.00
SCPA 2003
Open safe deposit box
20.00
SCPA 2102
Proceedings against a fiduciary
20.00
SCPA 2103
Proceedings by fiduciary to discover property
75.00
SCPA 2107
Advice and directions
75.00
SCPA 2108
Continue business
45.00
SCPA 2114
Review corporate trustee compensation
10.00
SCPA 2205
Petition to compel fiduciary to account
30.00
EPTL 7-4.6
Appointment of successor custodian
20.00