Washington County Probate Court Records Search

Washington County probate court records are stored at the Surrogate's Court in Fort Edward. Estate files here date back to 1788, making this one of the older record collections in upstate New York. You can search online for free through the WebSurrogate system or go to the courthouse at 383 Broadway to view records in person. The Washington County Surrogate's Court belongs to the 4th Judicial District and handles wills, estate administration, guardianships, and adoptions.

Washington County Surrogate's Court

All probate court records in Washington County are handled by the Surrogate's Court. This is where wills are proved, estates are managed, and guardians get appointed. The court operates at 383 Broadway in Fort Edward, the county seat.

Washington County was formed in 1772, originally as Charlotte County, and renamed in 1784. Its probate records date from 1788. The county sits along the eastern border of New York, next to Vermont. It is part of the 4th Judicial District. Warren County was carved from Washington County in 1813, so if you are looking for older records of someone who lived in what is now Warren County, those early files may be here.

How to Search Probate Court Records in Washington County

The WebSurrogate portal is the best place to start. It is free. You can look up Washington County cases by party name, file number, or date of death. Documents filed on or after February 19, 2014 are viewable online. For anything older, a trip to the courthouse is needed.

At the courthouse, public access computers let you view records that are not yet posted online. The court staff can help you find what you need. They keep an index of every estate on file, going all the way back to 1788. These indices are open to anyone during regular hours.

Probate court records in Washington County are a useful tool for family research. Wills name heirs. Administration files list next of kin. Estate inventories describe property. These records can fill gaps that census data and vital records miss. The county's long history means you may find ancestors from the late 1700s in these files.

Bring this info when you search:

• Full name of the person who died
• Date of death or a close estimate
• File number if you have one
• What type of case you need

Washington County Probate Filing Fees

Filing fees here follow the state schedule under SCPA 2402. The fee goes by estate value. Under $10,000 costs $45. From $10,000 to $20,000 is $75. Between $20,000 and $50,000, the fee is $215. Estates worth $50,000 to $100,000 cost $280. The $100,000 to $250,000 range is $420. From $250,000 to $500,000, you pay $625. And $500,000 or more costs $1,250.

Contested cases add costs. Filing objections under SCPA 1410 is $150. A jury demand is $150 more. A note of issue costs $45. Certified copies are $6 per page. A record search and certification costs $30 for files under 25 years old and $90 for older records.

Types of Cases at the Surrogate's Court

Probate is filed when someone dies with a valid will. The executor named in the will files the petition. The court reviews the will under SCPA Article 4. You must submit the original will. Copies are not allowed.

Administration applies when there is no will. The court picks an administrator from the eligible relatives. Spouses go first. Then children. Then parents. This priority list is set by New York law. Small estates valued at $50,000 or less qualify for voluntary administration. That process is quicker and costs less. The fee for estates under $10,000 is just $45.

Washington County Surrogate's Court also handles guardianship matters for people who cannot manage their own affairs. Trust cases, accountings, and wrongful death actions are filed here as well. Adoption proceedings go through this court, though those records are permanently sealed. Documents that contain social security numbers have restricted access, as do estate tax returns filed between May 1990 and January 2001.

Historical Probate Court Records

Washington County has probate court records that stretch back to 1788. That is nearly 240 years of estate files. For early records, the courthouse has original books and microfilm. FamilySearch has indexed some of these records too.

The New York State Archives in Albany holds microfilm copies of Surrogate's Court records from 1787 to 1929 for counties across the state. Washington County files from that era are part of the collection. These older records can give you names of family members, details about property, debts, and even lists of household items.

Keep in mind that Warren County was part of Washington County until 1813. If you are looking for someone who lived in the Lake George or Glens Falls area before that date, their estate records may be in the Washington County collection. The county Clerk's office in Fort Edward also keeps land records that connect to estate transfers.

Electronic Filing in Washington County

The NYSCEF system handles electronic filing for Washington County Surrogate's Court. Lawyer-represented parties must e-file for probate and administration cases. Self-represented filers can still go to the courthouse and file on paper.

E-filing works at any hour. You can submit documents late at night or on weekends. The system sends email alerts about filings and court orders. Credit cards are accepted for online payments. For help, call 646-386-3033 during business hours.

Cities and Towns in Washington County

All probate cases for Washington County residents go through the Surrogate's Court in Fort Edward. No cities in this county have a separate page on this site.

Communities in Washington County include Fort Edward, Greenwich, Granville, Hudson Falls, and Cambridge. All estate cases are filed at 383 Broadway in Fort Edward.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Washington County. Check where the deceased person lived to be sure you file in the correct county.