New York Probate Costs: Voluntary Administration and Full Probate (2026)

New York probate costs depend on whether you use voluntary administration (small estates) or a full Surrogate's Court proceeding (larger estates).

Voluntary Administration Costs ($50,000 or Less of Personal Property)

Expense	Cost
Clerk filing fee (SCPA Section 1304)	$1
Death certificates	$100 - $150
Copies and postage	$50 - $100
Notary	$10 - $25
DIY Total	About $160 - $275
Attorney (optional, flat fee)	$1,200 - $2,000

Full Probate Costs (Larger Estates)

Surrogate's Court filing fees are set by SCPA Section 2402 and depend on the value of the estate:

Estate value	Filing fee
Under $10,000	$45
$10,000 to under $20,000	$75
$20,000 to under $50,000	$215
$50,000 to under $100,000	$280
$100,000 to under $250,000	$420
$250,000 to under $500,000	$625
$500,000 and over	$1,250

Other typical costs:

Expense	Cost
Death certificates and notices	$200 - $300
Copies and certified letters	$50 - $150
Probate attorney fees (typical flat)	$4,000 - $7,000
CPA/tax services	$1,000 - $1,500

Executor Commissions

An executor or administrator may be entitled to a statutory commission, and many family executors waive it. Ask the court or an attorney what applies to your estate. Attorney fees are not set by a schedule and must be reasonable.

Illustrative Example: $60,000 New York Estate

If personal property exceeds $50,000 or the estate includes real property, a full proceeding may be needed:

Item	Cost
Court filing (SCPA 2402, $50,000 to $100,000 tier)	$280
Death certificates and notices	$200 - $300
Attorney (flat fee)	$4,500 - $6,000
Tax services	$800 - $1,200

Costs like these can be a large share of a small estate. All cost ranges in this guide are typical figures and vary by county.

Ways to Reduce Costs

1. Use voluntary administration if it applies (usually the lowest-cost route)
2. Negotiate flat fee with attorney
3. Keep organized records (reduces attorney time)
4. Handle routine tasks yourself
5. Use ExecutorBench ($199 guided or $499 complete) to keep tasks and deadlines organized, alongside advice from an attorney when you need it.

Use ExecutorBench's probate cost estimator to see typical costs.

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Disclaimer: ExecutorBench is self-help software. It is not a law firm, it does not give legal advice, and it is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Using it does not create an attorney-client relationship, and what you enter is not protected by attorney-client privilege. Costs vary by county and complexity. Consult an attorney licensed in New York for a specific estimate.