How to Settle an Estate in New York Without a Lawyer
Step-by-step guide to settling a New York estate without a lawyer. Covers Voluntary Administration, non-probate assets, creditor rules, and key forms.
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All articles about When Someone Dies in New York — Estate Settlement Guide.
New York Estate Settlement Guide vs. Probate Attorney: Which Do You Need?
Compare a New York estate settlement guide against hiring a probate attorney. Learn which approach fits your estate size, timeline, and budget.
How Long Does Probate Take in New York? A Realistic Timeline
New York probate takes 7–24 months for full estates. Voluntary Administration can close in weeks. Real timelines by county, and the mandatory milestones you cannot speed up.
Best Estate Settlement Guide for Out-of-State Executors in New York
Named executor for a New York estate but live out of state? Learn what New York requires from remote executors — Surrogate's Court, co-ops, and NYSCEF.
Best Estate Settlement Guide for First-Time Executors in New York
First-time executor in New York? Find the best guide for navigating Surrogate's Court, creditor rules, co-ops, and the seven-month creditor window.
Alternatives to Hiring a Probate Attorney in New York
Explore cost-effective alternatives to hiring a New York probate attorney — from Voluntary Administration to estate settlement guides and legal unbundling.
Contesting a Will in New York: Grounds, Process, and Realistic Odds
How to contest a will in New York Surrogate's Court — valid grounds, how to file an objection, what discovery looks like, and why most will contests fail.
New York Small Estate Affidavit and Voluntary Administration: The $50,000 Rule
Use New York's Voluntary Administration process to settle a small estate without full probate. How the $50,000 limit works, what Form SE-3A requires, and what it cannot do.
Medicaid Estate Recovery in New York: What the State Can (and Cannot) Take
New York Medicaid estate recovery targets only probate assets. Non-probate assets — trusts, joint accounts — are currently shielded. Deferrals, hardship waivers, and how to respond.
Health Care Proxy, Living Will, and Advance Directive in New York
New York's Health Care Proxy is the primary advance directive. New York has no statutory living will form — here's how both documents work and why you need them both.
The $255 Social Security Death Benefit: Who Qualifies and How to Claim It
The $255 Social Security lump-sum death benefit — who qualifies, how to apply, what happens if no eligible survivor exists, and how it fits into estate settlement.
Surrogate Court New York: How to Navigate Every County's Probate System
How to file in New York Surrogate's Court — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Nassau, Queens, and upstate. Forms, fees, e-filing rules, and what to expect county by county.
New York Will Requirements: What Makes a Last Will and Testament Valid
New York will requirements under EPTL 3-2.1 — signature, witnesses, age, and capacity. Holographic wills, military wills, and what happens when a will is contested.
New York Intestate Succession: Who Inherits When There Is No Will
New York intestate succession rules under EPTL 4-1.1 — who inherits when there's no will, how much each heir receives, and how the Surrogate's Court determines heirs.
New York Estate Tax: Rates, Exemption, and the 2026 Cliff Explained
New York estate tax rates, the 2026 exemption of $7.35M, and how the cliff can wipe out the exclusion entirely. What executors need to know before filing Form ET-706.
How to Order a Death Certificate in New York: NYC vs. NYS Rules
Order a death certificate in New York — NYC uses VitalChek ($15 + $9.30 fee), NYS charges $30. How many copies to get, who can order, and what pending means.
Letters Testamentary New York: How to Get Court Authority to Act as Executor
How to obtain Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration in New York Surrogate's Court — what they are, how to apply, and what banks and agencies require.
Executor Fees in New York: What You Are Legally Entitled to Receive
New York executor commissions are set by statute — a sliding percentage of the estate's value. How to calculate what you're owed, and when to waive the fee.