Richmond County Surrogate’s Court Filing Fees & Costs Explained (2026)
If you are settling the estate of a loved one who lived on Staten Island, the cost of probate breaks down into two main parts: a court filing fee that is graduated by the size of the estate under SCPA § 2402, and attorney’s fees that typically run between roughly $3,000 and $10,000 for an […]
Small Estate Affidavit vs. Full Probate in Staten Island
If your Staten Island loved one died owning $50,000 or less in personal property, you can usually skip full probate and use the small estate affidavit — known under New York law as voluntary administration (SCPA Article 13) — which is faster, cheaper, and far less paperwork. If the personal property exceeds $50,000, or the […]
Preliminary Letters Testamentary in Richmond County (SCPA §1412)
Preliminary letters testamentary are a temporary grant of authority issued by the Richmond County Surrogate’s Court that allows the executor named in a will to begin managing a Staten Island estate before the probate proceeding is finished. Authorized by Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act (SCPA) §1412, these interim letters let the nominated executor secure assets, access […]
How Long Does Probate Take in Richmond County? (2026 Timeline)
In Richmond County (Staten Island), an uncontested probate typically takes about three to six months from the date you file the petition until the executor receives Letters Testamentary and can begin distributing the estate. That range assumes the original will is available, the death certificate is in hand, and all distributees (the people who would […]
What Happens If Someone Dies Without a Will in Staten Island?
When someone dies without a will in Staten Island, New York’s intestacy statutes — not the deceased person’s wishes — control who inherits the estate, and the Richmond County Surrogate’s Court appoints an administrator to settle it. This is called dying “intestate.” Instead of a will being admitted to probate, a close relative petitions the […]
Do You Need a Lawyer to Probate a Will in Staten Island?
If you have been named executor in a Staten Island will, the short answer is this: New York law does not technically require you to hire a lawyer to probate a will, but in practice almost every executor in Richmond County retains one — and for good reason. Probate is a formal court proceeding governed […]