Probate Services — Long Island, NY

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

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:01:23 +0000

If you are about to open an estate on Long Island, here is the direct answer: the Nassau County Surrogate’s Court charges a graduated filing fee that is set by the value of the estate under New York’s Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act (SCPA) § 2402 — there is no single flat number, and the fee […]

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

Small Estate Affidavit vs. Full Probate in Long Island

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:01:23 +0000

When a loved one passes away in Long Island, the size and makeup of their estate usually decide whether you can use a streamlined small estate affidavit under SCPA Article 13 or whether you must open a full probate proceeding in the County Surrogate’s Court. In short: if the decedent left $50,000 or less in […]

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

Preliminary Letters Testamentary in Nassau County (SCPA §1412)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:01:23 +0000

When a loved one dies on Long Island and the named executor needs authority to act before the full probate proceeding concludes, the answer is Preliminary Letters Testamentary under SCPA §1412. These letters grant the person named as executor in the will interim authority to manage and protect the estate while the formal probate petition […]

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

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

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:01:23 +0000

For most families on Long Island, an uncontested probate in the Nassau County Surrogate’s Court takes roughly three to six months from the day the petition is filed to the day the executor receives Letters Testamentary and can begin administering the estate. That is the short answer. The longer answer depends on a handful of […]

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

What Happens If Someone Dies Without a Will in Long Island?

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:01:23 +0000

When someone dies without a will in Long Island, New York law — not the family — decides who inherits the estate. This is called dying “intestate,” and instead of a will naming an executor and beneficiaries, the New York Estates, Powers and Trusts Law (EPTL) supplies a fixed formula for distribution, and the Surrogate’s […]

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

Do You Need a Lawyer to Probate a Will in Long Island?

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:01:23 +0000

Technically, New York does not require you to hire a lawyer to probate a will in Long Island — an individual named as executor can petition the Surrogate’s Court on their own. In practice, however, almost every Long Island executor benefits from retaining counsel, and in many situations representation is effectively unavoidable. The probate process […]

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

Probate for an Immigrant Decedent in New York

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 20:03:00 +0000

When the deceased was an immigrant in New York, probate works the same way, but immigration status changes taxes, spousal deductions, and paperwork.

The post Probate for an Immigrant Decedent in New York appeared first on Probate Services — Long Island, NY.