Kings County Probate Court Records

Kings County probate court records are on file at the Surrogate's Court in Brooklyn. This court is part of the 2nd Judicial District and handles all estate cases for people who lived in Brooklyn at the time of death. You can search records online through WebSurrogate or visit the courthouse at 2 Johnson Street. Kings County is one of the five boroughs of New York City and has one of the largest caseloads of any Surrogate's Court in the state, processing thousands of probate, administration, and guardianship matters each year.

Kings County Surrogate's Court

The Surrogate's Court in Kings County is where all probate court records for Brooklyn are kept. This court probates wills, administers intestate estates, handles guardianship cases, and processes adoption matters. It sits at 2 Johnson Street in downtown Brooklyn, close to Borough Hall and the courts complex. The court is part of the 2nd Judicial District.

Kings County has a massive population. Brooklyn alone has more people than most entire states. That means the Surrogate's Court here deals with a very high volume of cases. The court has separate departments for probate, administration, and small estates, each with its own phone line and email. A Help Center is also on hand to assist people who do not have a lawyer.

Brooklyn was once its own city before it merged with New York City in 1898. Estate records from before that date can be harder to find. The Center for Brooklyn History at the Brooklyn Public Library holds some older records. For official probate court records, though, the Surrogate's Court is the primary source.

How to Search Kings County Probate Court Records

You have a few ways to look up probate court records in Kings County. Online is the fastest option for basic case data. A trip to the courthouse gives full file access and lets you pick up certified copies.

WebSurrogate is the main online tool. It is free and covers all counties in New York, including Kings. You can search by the name of the person who died. Narrow your search by date of death. Use File Search if you have the case number. Documents filed on or after February 19, 2014 can be viewed and downloaded. For older probate court records, you need to visit the courthouse in person.

The Kings County Help Center at (347) 401-9090 can help if you are not sure where to start. They assist people who do not have a lawyer. You can also email questions to the probate department at Kingsurr-probate@nycourts.gov or the administration department at KingSurr-Admin@nycourts.gov.

For genealogy research involving Brooklyn families, the Center for Brooklyn History is a solid secondary resource. They have archives, special collections, and historical materials that can fill in gaps around older estate cases.

Probate Court Records Fees in Kings County

Fees for probate court records in Kings County follow the statewide schedule under SCPA 2402. The fee depends on the gross estate value. Under $10,000, you pay $45. From $10,000 to $20,000, the fee is $75. Estates worth $20,000 to $50,000 pay $215. For $50,000 to $100,000, it is $280. Estates of $100,000 to $250,000 cost $420. Between $250,000 and $500,000, the fee is $625. Estates at $500,000 or above pay $1,250.

Contested cases bring extra costs. Filing objections under SCPA 1410 is $150. A jury trial demand costs $150 as well. Filing a note of issue runs $45. Certified copies are $6 per page. A search and certification for records under 25 years costs $30. For records over 25 years old, it costs $90.

If the estate value shown in the petition later turns out to be higher, an extra fee is due right away. If the value is lower, the court gives a refund. This rule keeps fees matched to the true size of the estate.

Types of Probate Court Records in Kings County

The Kings County Surrogate's Court handles many types of estate cases. Probate is the process for someone who dies with a valid will. The executor named in the will files a petition, and the court checks the will under SCPA Article 4. Only original wills are accepted.

When someone dies without a will, the court opens an administration proceeding. New York law sets the order for who can serve as administrator. The spouse comes first. Then children. Then parents. Then siblings. Small estates of $50,000 or less qualify for voluntary administration, a simpler and cheaper path.

Brooklyn sees a lot of guardianship cases too. These involve minors or adults who cannot manage their own affairs. The court also handles trust proceedings, estate accountings under SCPA Article 22, and wrongful death matters. Adoption records are sealed permanently. Guardianship documents, death certificates, tax returns, and files with social security numbers have limited access under court rules.

Historical Probate Court Records in Kings County

Kings County probate court records have a long history, but it can be a bit complicated. Brooklyn was a separate city until 1898, when it became part of New York City. Records from before that date may be split between different archives.

The Center for Brooklyn History at the Brooklyn Public Library is a key resource for historical research. Founded in 1863 as the Long Island Historical Society, it holds archives, special collections, and local history materials. The center is free and open to all. Its collections can help fill in family stories that connect to estate cases.

The New York State Archives holds Kings County probate records on microfilm from the 1700s through 1929. FamilySearch also has indexed records that can be searched online or at Family History Centers. For NYC vital records tied to estate research, the Municipal Archives at 31 Chambers Street in Manhattan has birth, death, and marriage records going back to the 1840s.

WebSurrogate shows documents filed on or after February 19, 2014. For anything older, public access terminals at the courthouse let you view unrestricted historical files. The Old Index Search and Index Book Pages features on WebSurrogate can help locate some earlier records too.

Electronic Filing in Kings County

Kings County requires e-filing for probate and administration cases when an attorney handles the matter. The NYSCEF system processes all electronic submissions. Self-represented parties can choose whether to file online or bring papers to the courthouse.

NYSCEF lets you file at any time. You get automatic email alerts when papers are filed or the court makes a decision. Credit card payments work through the system. For technical help, call the Electronic Filing Resource Center at 646-386-3033.

Given the high volume of cases in Kings County, e-filing can save a lot of time. You avoid the trip to downtown Brooklyn and the wait at the filing window. Multiple attorneys on a case can view the file at the same time.

Kings County Court Resources

The Center for Brooklyn History holds archives and genealogical materials that support probate research in Kings County.

Cities in Kings County

Kings County is the same as the borough of Brooklyn, which is part of New York City. All probate matters for Brooklyn residents go through the Kings County Surrogate's Court at 2 Johnson Street. Each borough of NYC has its own Surrogate's Court, so you need to file in the borough where the person lived.

Nearby Counties

Kings County borders other NYC boroughs. Each has its own Surrogate's Court. File in the county where the person was living at the time of death.