Probate Services — Rochester, NY

Monroe County Surrogate’s Court Filing Fees & Costs Explained (2026)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:19:33 +0000

If you are settling a loved one’s estate in Rochester, the first question is almost always about money: what does it cost to file for probate at the Monroe County Surrogate’s Court, and what should you budget overall? Here is the short answer. The court’s filing fee is graduated by the value of the estate […]

The post Monroe County Surrogate’s Court Filing Fees & Costs Explained (2026) appeared first on Probate Services — Rochester, NY.

Small Estate Affidavit vs. Full Probate in Rochester

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:19:33 +0000

If you are settling a loved one’s estate in Rochester, the central question is usually whether you can use New York’s streamlined small estate affidavit (voluntary administration under SCPA Article 13) or whether you must open full probate at the Monroe County Surrogate’s Court. The short answer: if the deceased person’s personal property (bank accounts, […]

The post Small Estate Affidavit vs. Full Probate in Rochester appeared first on Probate Services — Rochester, NY.

Preliminary Letters Testamentary in Monroe County (SCPA §1412)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:19:33 +0000

Preliminary letters testamentary are a court order, issued under SCPA §1412, that grant the person named as executor in a will the authority to begin managing an estate before the full probate proceeding is complete. In the Monroe County Surrogate’s Court in Rochester, these interim letters let the nominated executor secure assets, access bank accounts, […]

The post Preliminary Letters Testamentary in Monroe County (SCPA §1412) appeared first on Probate Services — Rochester, NY.

How Long Does Probate Take in Monroe County? (2026 Timeline)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:19:33 +0000

Most uncontested probate cases in Monroe County are completed in roughly three to six months, measured from the day the petition is filed at the Surrogate’s Court in Rochester to the day the executor receives Letters Testamentary and can begin acting for the estate. That is the headline answer. But “probate” and “settling the estate” […]

The post How Long Does Probate Take in Monroe County? (2026 Timeline) appeared first on Probate Services — Rochester, NY.

What Happens If Someone Dies Without a Will in Rochester?

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:19:33 +0000

If someone dies without a will in Rochester, New York’s intestacy statutes — not the deceased person’s wishes — decide who inherits the estate, and the Monroe County Surrogate’s Court appoints a family member to manage and distribute it. When there is no valid will, a person is said to have died “intestate.” Instead of […]

The post What Happens If Someone Dies Without a Will in Rochester? appeared first on Probate Services — Rochester, NY.

Do You Need a Lawyer to Probate a Will in Rochester?

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:19:33 +0000

No, New York law does not technically require you to hire an attorney to probate a will in Rochester — but in practice, almost everyone benefits from one, and many executors find it nearly impossible to complete the process without legal help. The Monroe County Surrogate’s Court will accept a petition filed by an individual […]

The post Do You Need a Lawyer to Probate a Will in Rochester? appeared first on Probate Services — Rochester, NY.

Inheriting From Abroad: NY Probate Mistakes to Avoid

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:48:00 +0000

Inheriting New York property from abroad? Learn how Surrogate's Court probate works for immigrant families in Rochester, NY—and the costly mistakes to avoid.

The post Inheriting From Abroad: NY Probate Mistakes to Avoid appeared first on Probate Services — Rochester, NY.