Search New York City Probate Court Records

New York City probate court records are spread across five separate Surrogate's Courts, one for each borough. Unlike most places in the state, the city spans five counties: New York (Manhattan), Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Bronx, and Richmond (Staten Island). Each county runs its own Surrogate's Court, so you need to file in the county where the deceased person lived. You can search records from all five courts through the WebSurrogate online portal for free. The NYC Department of Records also holds historical estate files going back centuries.

Manhattan Surrogate's Court (New York County)

Manhattan's Surrogate's Court is one of the busiest probate courts in the country. It handles all estate cases for people who lived in Manhattan at the time of death. The court sits in a landmark building at 31 Chambers Street. This same building also houses the NYC Department of Records.

The Manhattan court processes thousands of probate filings each year. If someone died with a will, the executor files a probate petition under SCPA Article 14. For deaths without a will, the court appoints an administrator following the priority order in SCPA 1001. Spouses come first in that order. Children come next. The court also handles small estates worth $50,000 or less through a faster voluntary administration process under SCPA Article 13.

Brooklyn Surrogate's Court (Kings County)

Kings County Surrogate's Court covers all of Brooklyn. It is the second largest borough by population. The court moved to 2 Johnson Street and handles a high volume of estate cases each year. Brooklyn residents must file probate court records here, not in Manhattan.

The Kings County court follows the same procedures as all New York Surrogate's Courts. Filing fees are set by state law under SCPA 2402 and are the same across all five boroughs. You can look up Brooklyn probate cases on WebSurrogate by selecting Kings County from the dropdown.

Queens Surrogate's Court

Queens County Surrogate's Court is at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica. Queens is the most diverse county in the country, and the court staff can help with cases involving documents in other languages. Translations must be certified. The court handles probate, administration, guardianship, and adoption cases for Queens residents.

Bronx Surrogate's Court

Bronx County Surrogate's Court sits at 851 Grand Concourse. All probate court records for Bronx residents are filed and kept here. The Bronx is part of the 12th Judicial District. The court accepts e-filing through NYSCEF for attorney-represented cases. Self-represented parties can file in person at the clerk's window.

Staten Island Surrogate's Court (Richmond County)

Richmond County Surrogate's Court handles all probate matters for Staten Island. It is the smallest of the five borough courts by caseload. The court is at 18 Richmond Terrace. Despite its smaller size, it follows the same rules, fees, and filing requirements as the other four courts.

How to Search NYC Probate Court Records

The fastest way to search is online. WebSurrogate covers all five NYC counties. You pick the county, type a name, and the system shows matching cases. Results include the file number, date of death, and case type. Documents filed after February 2014 can be viewed right on screen.

For older records, you need to go to the courthouse in person. Each Surrogate's Court keeps its own files and indexes. Manhattan has records going back to the 1700s. The other boroughs have records from the time they became separate counties. You can view files at public access terminals during court hours.

The NYC Department of Records at 31 Chambers Street holds historical probate records too. Call them at (212) 639-9675 for help with old estate files. Their collection includes wills and letters of administration that may not be in the court's active system.

To run a search, you will need:

• The full name of the deceased person
• Which borough they lived in (this tells you the county)
• An approximate date of death
• The file number if you have one

Probate Filing Fees in New York City

Fees are the same in all five boroughs. The state sets them under SCPA 2402. The cost depends on the gross value of the estate. Small estates under $10,000 pay just $45. Estates from $10,000 to $20,000 pay $75. The fee goes up to $215 for estates between $20,000 and $50,000. Between $50,000 and $100,000, it is $280. Estates from $100,000 to $250,000 cost $420 to file. Larger estates between $250,000 and $500,000 pay $625. The top rate is $1,250 for estates over $500,000.

Certified copies cost $6 per page. A search and certification costs $30 for records under 25 years old or $90 for older records. Filing objections under SCPA 1410 is $150. You can pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card at any of the five courts.

Electronic Filing for NYC Probate Cases

All five NYC Surrogate's Courts use the NYSCEF system for electronic filing. If you have a lawyer, e-filing is mandatory for probate and administration proceedings. Self-represented parties can choose to file online or in person. The system works around the clock, so you can submit documents any time.

NYSCEF sends email alerts when new documents are filed or when the court issues a decision. It also lets you pay filing fees by credit card. For technical help, call the Electronic Filing Resource Center at 646-386-3033.

Which Borough Court Do I File In?

File in the county where the deceased person lived. Not where they died. Not where their property is. The county of residence at the time of death controls where probate happens. This rule comes from SCPA 205.

If someone lived in Brooklyn, you file in Kings County. A Manhattan resident means New York County. This trips people up because borough names and county names differ. Here is the breakdown: Manhattan is New York County. Brooklyn is Kings County. Staten Island is Richmond County. Queens and Bronx use their borough names as county names.

When the deceased owned property in more than one borough, you still file where they lived. The court can issue ancillary letters if needed to deal with property in other counties. If you are not sure which borough is correct, the court clerks can help you figure it out.

View County Probate Court Records

New York City spans five counties. Each has its own page with more details about the Surrogate's Court in that county.

Nearby Cities

These cities and towns are near New York City. Residents of these areas file probate cases in their own county's Surrogate's Court, not in one of the NYC courts.