Probate Services — Queens, NY

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

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:49:16 +0000

If you are settling the estate of a Queens resident, the cost to probate a will in the Queens County Surrogate’s Court comes down to two main categories: the court filing fee, which is graduated by the value of the estate under SCPA §2402, and attorney fees, which for an uncontested probate typically run $3,000 […]

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

Small Estate Affidavit vs. Full Probate in Queens

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:49:16 +0000

If your loved one died in Queens leaving $50,000 or less in personal property, you can likely skip full probate and use a Small Estate Affidavit — a streamlined voluntary administration under SCPA Article 13 that is faster and cheaper. If the estate exceeds that threshold, or includes real property that must pass through the […]

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

Preliminary Letters Testamentary in Queens County (SCPA §1412)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:49:16 +0000

If you are named as executor in a Queens resident’s will but probate is taking time, Preliminary Letters Testamentary let you act now. Authorized by SCPA §1412, these interim letters give the person nominated as executor limited legal authority to begin administering the estate — securing property, accessing accounts, and protecting assets — while the […]

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

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

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:49:15 +0000

For most uncontested estates, probate in Queens County takes roughly three to six months from the date the Petition for Probate is filed with the Queens County Surrogate’s Court until the executor receives Letters Testamentary and can fully administer the estate. That is the short answer. The longer answer depends on a handful of variables […]

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

What Happens If Someone Dies Without a Will in Queens?

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:49:15 +0000

When someone dies without a will in Queens, their estate does not go to the State of New York, and it does not get frozen forever. Instead, it passes through a court-supervised process called intestate administration, handled by the Queens County Surrogate’s Court. New York’s intestacy laws — found in the Estates, Powers and Trusts […]

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

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

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:49:15 +0000

Technically, New York does not require you to hire a lawyer to probate a will in Queens. You can file a Petition for Probate with the Queens County Surrogate’s Court yourself as the named executor. In practice, however, almost every Queens executor benefits from experienced counsel, and most end up retaining a probate attorney before […]

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

What Happens to a Green Card Holder’s Estate in New York?

Fri, 22 May 2026 12:03:00 +0000

What happens to a green card holder's estate in New York? Answers on probate, non-citizen spouses, foreign heirs, and the federal-vs-state split.

The post What Happens to a Green Card Holder’s Estate in New York? appeared first on Probate Services — Queens, NY.