Probate Lawyer Manhattan, One Firm From Filing to Distribution
Probate in Manhattan runs through the New York County Surrogate's Court, and the process can feel opaque when you are also grieving. We handle the whole arc, from the first petition to the final distribution, so the estate moves forward and the family does not have to learn court procedure on the worst week of their lives.
Probate, start to finish
When someone passes with a will, the named executor must be formally appointed before they can act. That happens through probate, a court process that admits the will, issues authority to the executor, and oversees the orderly settlement of the estate. We prepare the petition, manage the filing at the New York County Surrogate's Court, and carry the matter through to closing.
From there, estate administration is the real work: marshaling assets, paying valid debts and taxes, and distributing what remains to the beneficiaries. We keep that process documented and clean so it does not come back to haunt the executor later.
Getting the executor empowered
Nothing happens until the court issues letters testamentary, the document that proves an executor's authority to banks, brokerages, and transfer agents. We move quickly to get those letters in hand, because every account stays frozen until they do.
If a loved one became incapacitated before passing, or a beneficiary cannot manage their own affairs, we also handle Article 81 guardianship so the right person holds the right authority at the right time.
Manhattan real estate in the estate
Many Manhattan estates center on a co-op or condo, and co-ops add a layer most probate guides ignore: board approval, transfer of shares, and the proprietary lease. We coordinate co-op and condo transfers as part of the estate so the apartment can be sold or passed to heirs without stalling the whole administration.
What we handle in a Manhattan probate
- Filing the probate petition in New York County Surrogate's Court
- Obtaining letters testamentary for the executor
- Marshaling accounts, valuing assets, and paying estate debts
- Co-op, condo, and real-estate transfers within the estate
- Will contests, kinship questions, and accounting disputes
- Final distribution and closing the estate
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is probate filed for a Manhattan resident?
For someone who lived in Manhattan, probate is filed in the New York County Surrogate's Court at 31 Chambers Street. The court that handles the estate is determined by the decedent's county of residence at death.
How long does probate take in New York County?
An uncontested estate often takes roughly seven months to a year, depending on the court's calendar, whether all heirs are located, and how complex the assets are. Contests, kinship issues, or tax matters extend that timeline. We push the parts we control as fast as the court allows.
Do small estates have to go through full probate?
Not always. New York offers a simplified small-estate (voluntary administration) procedure when the personal property is under the statutory threshold. We will tell you at the outset whether your matter qualifies for the shorter path.
Get the estate moving
Speak with Alan Vaitzman, Esq. about appointing the executor and settling the estate. Free consultation, fees explained up front.
Call (212) 413-4116 Send a message