Probate Services — Buffalo, NY

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

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:18:26 +0000

If you are settling a loved one’s estate in Buffalo, the cost of probate at the Erie County Surrogate’s Court comes down to two main categories: the court filing fee, which New York law sets on a graduated scale tied to the size of the estate under SCPA §2402, and your attorney’s fee, which for […]

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Small Estate Affidavit vs. Full Probate in Buffalo

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:18:26 +0000

If you are settling a loved one’s estate in Buffalo, the choice between a small estate affidavit and full probate comes down to two questions: how much personal property the decedent owned, and whether real estate must pass through the estate. In New York, when a person dies leaving $50,000 or less in personal property […]

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Preliminary Letters Testamentary in Erie County (SCPA §1412)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:18:26 +0000

When a loved one dies in Buffalo with a will, the named executor often cannot act immediately. Full probate takes time, and assets may need urgent attention long before the will is admitted. Preliminary letters testamentary, authorized by SCPA §1412, solve this problem: the Erie County Surrogate’s Court can grant the person named as executor […]

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

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:18:26 +0000

For most families in Buffalo and across Erie County, an uncontested probate takes roughly three to six months from the day the petition is filed in the Erie County Surrogate’s Court to the day the executor receives Letters Testamentary and can begin acting on behalf of the estate. Full administration — collecting assets, paying debts […]

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What Happens If Someone Dies Without a Will in Buffalo?

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:18:26 +0000

When someone dies without a will in Buffalo, New York, their estate does not simply pass to whomever the family chooses. Instead, the estate is settled through a court-supervised process called administration, and New York’s intestacy statute decides who inherits. The matter is handled by the Erie County Surrogate’s Court, which appoints an administrator (rather […]

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

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:18:26 +0000

No, New York law does not strictly require you to hire a lawyer to probate a will in Buffalo — an executor may, in theory, file a Petition for Probate in the Erie County Surrogate’s Court on their own. In practice, however, almost everyone who probates a will in Buffalo retains an attorney, and for […]

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Probate for an Immigrant’s Estate in New York

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:17:00 +0000

When the deceased was an immigrant in New York, probate works the same way — but immigration status changes the tax and documentation choices. Here is how the options compare.

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