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Bronx County, NY Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Bronx County Surrogate's Court, serving the borough of the Bronx |
| Courthouse | Bronx County Courthouse, 851 Grand Concourse, 3rd Floor, Bronx, NY 10451 |
| Filing office | The office of the Chief Clerk of the Surrogate's Court, at 851 Grand Concourse; filings are taken by department, and the department depends on whether there is a will and on the size of the estate |
| Phone | Probate Department (decedent who left a will) (718) 618-2365; Administration Department (no will) (718) 618-2370; Small Estate Department (718) 618-2309; general information (718) 618-2300; Cashier, for certificates and record searches, (718) 618-2396; Help Center (718) 618-1722 (English) and (718) 618-1744 (Espanol) |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; closed weekends and court holidays |
| Filing fee | Set by statute on a sliding scale keyed to the value of the estate, from $45 for an estate under $10,000 to $1,250 for an estate of $500,000 or more (SCPA 2402, uniform statewide, verified July 2026); $1 for a small estate handled by voluntary administration (SCPA 1304). Uniform in every county |
| Local forms | New York uses one statewide set of official Surrogate's Court forms in every county, including Form P-1 (Petition for Probate) and Form A-1 (Petition for Letters of Administration); the small estate document is the Affidavit of Voluntary Administration. There is no Bronx County only form set |
| E-filing | NYSCEF (New York State Courts Electronic Filing) is mandatory for attorneys in new probate, administration, and related miscellaneous proceedings; the court's own notice puts the mandate in effect as of July 10, 2026, part of the 2026 rollout of mandatory e-filing to the Bronx, Kings, Queens, and Richmond Surrogate's Courts. A self-represented (pro se) filer may opt out and file on paper, in person or by mail. Under a separate notice effective April 15, 2026, accounting and miscellaneous proceedings may be e-filed but are not processed until the court receives a hard copy of the petition or accounting; under the court's e-filing protocol, guardianship and adoption matters are still filed on paper |
| Case search | WebSurrogate, the statewide Surrogate's Court case search at websurrogates.nycourts.gov (coverage varies by county); e-filed cases also appear in the NYSCEF case search at iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/CaseSearch |
| Help Center | The Surrogate's Court Help Center helps people who are not represented by an attorney with procedural information, court rules, forms, and referrals; it does not give legal advice. Reach it at (718) 618-1722 (English) or (718) 618-1744 (Espanol) |
| Appearances | Some appearances are conducted virtually; citations the court issues carry a QR code for appearing on the court's platform for a hearing, and appearance links are published on the court's Calendar, Appearances, and Citations page. Confirm the format for any appearance with the assigned part |
| Website | https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/12th-judicial-district/bronx-county-surrogates-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
The most common Bronx misstep is filing before you know what the estate holds and which proceeding fits. New York has three ordinary paths: a probate proceeding when there is a will (Surrogate's Court Procedure Act, SCPA, Article 14), an administration proceeding when there is no will (SCPA Article 10), and voluntary administration for a qualifying small estate (SCPA Article 13, SCPA 1301). Which one applies turns on whether there is a will and on the value and type of the assets; the statewide thresholds are covered on the New York state page. A jointly owned Bronx apartment or a beneficiary-designated account often passes outside the estate, so the estate that actually goes through the Surrogate's Court can be smaller than the family expects.
Before you file, identify every bank, credit-union, brokerage, and retirement account, life-insurance policy, cooperative or condominium interest, and parcel of Bronx real estate, along with every debt, and identify each distributee (the decedent's heirs at law) by name. Only then can you pick the right proceeding, calculate the correct filing fee, and decide whether counsel is needed. Sunset's asset-discovery work, searching more than 2,300 financial institutions, exists for this step.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Bronx County Surrogate's Court serves the borough of the Bronx, which is coextensive with Bronx County. Every Bronx probate and administration is filed here, at the office of the Chief Clerk of the Surrogate's Court in the Bronx County Courthouse, 851 Grand Concourse. Under New York's venue rule, the proper county is the one where the decedent was domiciled at death (SCPA 205); for a decedent who was not a New York domiciliary but left property in the state, venue lies where the property is located (SCPA 206), which is the basis for an ancillary proceeding. The court accepts filings only for decedents who resided in Bronx County, or who left property or a cause of action here, so the estate of a Bronx resident, or one holding Bronx real property, is filed at this courthouse.
Bronx County is one of the busiest Surrogate's Court dockets in the state. The court runs dedicated departments that take filings by proceeding type and by the size of the estate, a Help Center for self-represented filers, and a records room, and it publishes its e-filing protocol and part rules on its nycourts.gov page. The Surrogates are elected and change over time, so this page refers to the Surrogate's Court and the assigned part rather than to the sitting judge.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm venue. The Bronx County Surrogate's Court is the right court when the decedent was domiciled in Bronx County (the Bronx) at death (SCPA 205). The court accepts filings only for decedents who resided in Bronx County or who left property or a cause of action here; an out-of-state will already admitted elsewhere is handled by an ancillary proceeding (SCPA 206).
- Choose the proceeding and the form. With a will, the named executor files Form P-1, the petition for probate, and the court issues Letters Testamentary (SCPA Article 14). With no will, a distributee files Form A-1, the petition for letters of administration, and the court issues Letters of Administration to the administrator; priority to serve is set by SCPA 1001 (SCPA Article 10). A qualifying small estate uses the Affidavit of Voluntary Administration (SCPA Article 13, SCPA 1301). The statewide thresholds are on the New York state page.
- Gather what the court needs: the original will (if any), a certified copy of the death certificate, a list of the estate's assets and debts, and the names and addresses of the distributees. Notice is given either by their signed waivers and consents or by a citation the court issues.
- File with the Surrogate's Court, routed by department. A will goes to the Probate Department (718) 618-2365; a no-will estate goes to the Administration Department (718) 618-2370, or to the Small Estate Department (718) 618-2309 for a qualifying small estate. Attorneys must e-file through NYSCEF, which is mandatory in the Bronx County Surrogate's Court for new probate, administration, and related miscellaneous proceedings; a self-represented person may e-file or file on paper in person or by mail at 851 Grand Concourse. If you e-file, the original will must be scanned without being unstapled and the original paper will filed with the court within two business days, and a certified copy of the death certificate must be filed within two business days.
- Pay the filing fee. The fee is set by statute on a sliding scale keyed to the estate's value, from $45 for an estate under $10,000 to $1,250 for an estate of $500,000 or more (SCPA 2402, uniform statewide, verified July 2026); a small estate handled by voluntary administration is $1 (SCPA 1304). Pay by credit card through NYSCEF or at the Cashier (718) 618-2396; if you pay at the court, the documents are not treated as filed until payment is received in full, and the court deletes an e-filing if payment is not made within two business days.
- Give notice to the distributees. File their signed waivers and consents, or submit a proposed citation through NYSCEF and the court completes and issues it. Citations the court issues carry a QR code for appearing on the court's platform for a hearing.
- Attend if a hearing is set. An uncontested probate or administration is often decided on the papers; a contested matter, such as an objection to probate (SCPA 1410), is heard by the Surrogate. Some appearances are conducted virtually through the platform link on the citation; confirm the format and date with the assigned part.
- Receive authority. The court issues Letters Testamentary (with a will), Letters of Administration (no will), or Letters of Voluntary Administration (small estate). A certified copy of the letters is the proof banks and transfer agents rely on; letters are mailed to the filer in a self-addressed stamped envelope.
- Administer and close. Collect the assets, address creditor claims (a fiduciary who distributes more than seven months after letters were issued is protected against claims that were not presented within that seven-month window (SCPA 1802)), account to the interested parties, and distribute. An accounting proceeding may be e-filed, but the court does not process it until it receives a hard copy of the accounting.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Bronx County
New York uses one statewide set of official Surrogate's Court forms, and the same forms are filed in Bronx County as in every other county's Surrogate's Court; there is no separate Bronx County form set. The load-bearing filings are Form P-1, the Petition for Probate, used when there is a will, and Form A-1, the Petition for Letters of Administration, used when there is no will. A qualifying small estate is filed on the Affidavit of Voluntary Administration, also called the small estate affidavit. Common companions include the notice of probate, waivers and consents, and the affidavits of attesting witnesses.
The official forms are published on the statewide Surrogate's Court forms hub at nycourts.gov/surrogates-court-forms and, for the five boroughs, the New York City Surrogate's Court forms page. Self-represented filers can also use the New York CourtHelp Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Form programs; the Small Estate DIY program builds a completed Affidavit of Voluntary Administration for a qualifying estate.
Bronx County takes these forms at the Probate Department counter for a will, the Administration Department counter for a no-will estate, or the Small Estate Department for a qualifying small estate, and through NYSCEF, which is mandatory for attorneys. The original will is not left to an upload alone: if you e-file, scan the will without unstapling it and file the original paper will with the court within two business days.
Local nuance
Bronx County-specific considerations
Mandatory e-filing for attorneys. NYSCEF e-filing in the Bronx County Surrogate's Court is mandatory for attorneys in new probate, administration, and related miscellaneous proceedings, in effect under the court's own notice as of July 10, 2026 and part of the 2026 rollout of mandatory Surrogate's Court e-filing to the Bronx, Kings, Queens, and Richmond courts. An attorney must e-file; a self-represented person may opt out and file on paper, in person or by mail. Under a separate court notice effective April 15, 2026, accounting and miscellaneous proceedings may be e-filed but are not processed until the court receives a hard copy of the petition or accounting, and under the court's e-filing protocol, guardianship and adoption matters are still filed on paper. Confirm the current status on the NYSCEF Authorized Courts list at nycourts.gov/efile.
Filings are routed by department and by estate size. The court takes filings by proceeding type: the Probate Department (718) 618-2365 for a decedent who left a will, the Administration Department (718) 618-2370 for a decedent with no will, and the Small Estate Department (718) 618-2309 for a qualifying small estate. The Probate and Administration Departments handle estates with real or personal property worth more than $50,000; a smaller personal-property estate can go through voluntary administration (SCPA Article 13, SCPA 1301). Other counters include the Cashier (718) 618-2396 for certificates, certifications, and record searches, Miscellaneous and Accounting (718) 618-2375, Guardian (718) 618-2380, Inventory of Assets (718) 618-2385, and the Calendar Clerk (718) 618-2373.
Original wills and death certificates travel on paper. Even when a proceeding is e-filed, the original will must be scanned without being unstapled and the original paper will filed with the court within two business days, and a certified copy of the death certificate must be filed within two business days. Court-issued letters and certificates are mailed back to the filer in a self-addressed stamped envelope, which the filer provides.
A walk-in Help Center for people without a lawyer. The Surrogate's Court Help Center assists self-represented parties with procedural information, court rules, statutes, and some forms and brochures. It cannot give legal advice, tell you whether to start a case, or recommend which procedure to use, and it cannot fill out forms for you. Reach it at (718) 618-1722 (English) or (718) 618-1744 (Espanol).
Search the record before opening a matter. Before starting a new filing, search the decedent's last name to see whether a file is already open and whether another will is on file, because the court's numbering system makes a search by file number alone unreliable. To visit the records room or order a record search, call (718) 618-2395; the court asks that you not call to ask whether a proceeding was already filed. Certificates and certifications are handled by the Cashier at (718) 618-2396.
Appearances and QR-code citations. Citations the court issues now carry a QR code that lets a party appear on the court's platform for a hearing, and the court publishes appearance links on its Calendar, Appearances, and Citations page. An uncontested matter is often decided on the papers; confirm the format for any appearance with the assigned part.
Recent updates
| Change | What it means |
|---|---|
| Mandatory NYSCEF e-filing | Attorneys must e-file new probate, administration, and related miscellaneous proceedings in the Bronx County Surrogate's Court. The court's own notice puts the mandate in effect as of July 10, 2026, part of the 2026 rollout of mandatory Surrogate's Court e-filing to the Bronx, Kings, Queens, and Richmond courts. A self-represented (pro se) filer may opt out and file on paper. |
| Hard copies for accountings and miscellaneous proceedings | Under a court notice effective April 15, 2026, accounting and miscellaneous proceedings, including pleadings and motion papers, may be e-filed through NYSCEF, but the court does not process them until it receives a hard copy of the petition or accounting. |
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Bronx County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | A Bronx apartment or home held by the spouses jointly with right of survivorship, or as tenants by the entirety, generally passes to the surviving spouse outside the estate; the survivor records or presents the death certificate to transfer title. Accounts and property in the decedent's sole name may still need a probate proceeding (Form P-1) if there is a will, or an administration proceeding (Form A-1) if there is not, filed at the Bronx County Surrogate's Court. | Asset discovery to separate what passed outside the estate from what did not. Packet generation for the P-1 or A-1 petition and the notice and consent forms. A vetted Bronx County probate attorney if the estate is contested or complex. |
| Out-of-state adult child, small estate | If the parent was domiciled in the Bronx and left a qualifying small estate of limited personal property, the child can use voluntary administration (SCPA Article 13, SCPA 1301) on the Affidavit of Voluntary Administration for a $1 filing fee, and the CourtHelp DIY Small Estate program builds the form. A self-represented filer can file on paper by mail or opt into NYSCEF, so the child can often file from out of state without traveling to New York. A larger estate is filed as an administration proceeding (Form A-1), which an attorney must e-file. | Asset discovery to confirm the estate fits the small estate path and holds no solely owned real property. Packet generation for the Affidavit of Voluntary Administration or the A-1 petition, formatted for NYSCEF. Attorney referral if the estate turns out to be larger or contested. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | An administration proceeding at the Bronx County Surrogate's Court. Because there is no will, the parent petitions for letters of administration (Form A-1), with priority among distributees set by SCPA 1001, and the court issues Letters of Administration. The administrator then obtains the authority needed to sell the child's Bronx real property before the deed can transfer, and a contested step is heard by the Surrogate. | Asset discovery for the child's accounts and property. Packet generation for the administration petition and the sale papers. A vetted Bronx County probate attorney to run the administration and any contested step. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Bronx County Surrogate's Court (nycourts.gov/courts/12th-judicial-district/bronx-county-surrogates-court) | The court's own page: address, hours, department contacts, the e-filing protocol and mandate notice, part rules, and appearance links |
| Surrogate's Court Help Center (718) 618-1722 (English), (718) 618-1744 (Espanol) | Help for self-represented filers with procedural information, court rules, forms, and referrals; it does not give legal advice |
| New York CourtHelp, When Someone Dies (nycourts.gov/courthelp/WhenSomeoneDies/overview.shtml and /probate.shtml) | Plain-language statewide overviews of probate, administration, and small estates |
| New York CourtHelp DIY Small Estate program (nycourts.gov/courthelp/diy/smallestate.shtml) | A free guided program that builds a completed Affidavit of Voluntary Administration for a qualifying small estate |
| Statewide Surrogate's Court forms (nycourts.gov/surrogates-court-forms) | The official statewide forms, including Form P-1 and Form A-1, plus the New York City Surrogate's Court forms page for the five boroughs |
| WebSurrogate (websurrogates.nycourts.gov) | The statewide Surrogate's Court public case search; coverage varies by county |
| Bronx County Public Administrator (nyc.gov/site/bronxpa) | Administers estates of Bronx decedents where there is no next of kin available or no one qualifies to serve |
| City Bar Justice Center, Planning and Estates Law Project (citybarjusticecenter.org) | Guidance on Surrogate's Court forms and estate matters for income-eligible New Yorkers, from the New York City Bar |
| LawHelpNY (lawhelpny.org) | Self-help legal information and routing to legal aid statewide |
When to hire an attorney
New York does not require an attorney to file a probate or administration proceeding, and many straightforward Bronx estates are handled with the statewide forms, the Help Center, and the DIY Small Estate program. Counsel makes sense when the will is contested or an interested party files objections to probate (SCPA 1410); when the estate is large, taxable, or holds a business interest or out-of-state property; when Bronx real property, a cooperative, or a condominium must be sold; when the heirs are unknown or hard to prove and a kinship question arises; or when the fiduciary faces a dispute over accounting or removal. Because attorneys must e-file in the Bronx County Surrogate's Court, counsel also carries the NYSCEF filing. Sunset can connect families to a vetted Bronx County probate attorney when the situation calls for counsel.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and public records to surface bank and credit-union accounts, retirement plans, brokerage holdings, life insurance, Bronx real estate and cooperative interests, business interests, and unclaimed property, so you know the estate's value for estate settlement and can pick the right New York proceeding before you file.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the Bronx County filing: the petition for probate (Form P-1) or letters of administration (Form A-1), or the Affidavit of Voluntary Administration for a small estate, with the notice and consent forms, formatted for NYSCEF or for the Probate, Administration, or Small Estate Department counter at 851 Grand Concourse.
Find a local probate attorney. When an estate is contested, taxable, or otherwise calls for counsel, Sunset connects families to a vetted Bronx County probate attorney to file and appear.
Sunset is free for families. Revenue comes from bank partners that pay Sunset while estate funds sit in an FDIC-insured estate account ($3M coverage).
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Bronx County (the Bronx)?
With the Bronx County Surrogate's Court, at the office of the Chief Clerk in the Bronx County Courthouse, 851 Grand Concourse, 3rd Floor, Bronx, NY 10451. A will goes to the Probate Department at (718) 618-2365; a no-will estate goes to the Administration Department at (718) 618-2370, or the Small Estate Department at (718) 618-2309 for a qualifying small estate. Attorneys must e-file through NYSCEF; a self-represented person may e-file or file on paper in person or by mail.
Is e-filing required in the Bronx County Surrogate's Court?
Yes, for attorneys. NYSCEF e-filing is mandatory in the Bronx County Surrogate's Court for new probate, administration, and related miscellaneous proceedings, in effect under the court's own notice as of July 10, 2026, part of the 2026 rollout to the Bronx, Kings, Queens, and Richmond Surrogate's Courts. A self-represented (pro se) filer may opt out and file on paper, in person or by mail. Accounting and miscellaneous proceedings may be e-filed but are not processed until the court receives a hard copy, and under the court's e-filing protocol, guardianship and adoption matters are still filed on paper.
How much does it cost to file probate in Bronx County?
The filing fee is set by statute on a sliding scale keyed to the value of the estate, from $45 for an estate under $10,000 to $1,250 for an estate of $500,000 or more, and it is the same in every county (SCPA 2402, verified July 2026). A small estate handled by voluntary administration is $1 (SCPA 1304). NYSCEF accepts payment by credit card; if you pay at the court, the filing is not complete until payment is received in full.
Do I have to appear in person for a Bronx County probate?
Not always. An uncontested probate or administration is often decided on the papers. When an appearance is needed, some are conducted virtually: citations the court issues carry a QR code for appearing on the court's platform, and the court publishes appearance links on its Calendar, Appearances, and Citations page. Confirm the format for your appearance with the assigned part.
How do I look up a Bronx County probate case?
Use WebSurrogate, the statewide Surrogate's Court case search at websurrogates.nycourts.gov, though coverage varies by county. E-filed cases also appear in the NYSCEF case search at iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/CaseSearch. To search older records or make a records-room appointment, call (718) 618-2395; the Cashier handles certificates and certifications at (718) 618-2396.
What forms do I use for Bronx County probate?
The official statewide Surrogate's Court forms, the same set used in every county. The core filings are Form P-1 (Petition for Probate) when there is a will and Form A-1 (Petition for Letters of Administration) when there is not, and the Affidavit of Voluntary Administration for a small estate. They are on the statewide forms hub at nycourts.gov/surrogates-court-forms, and the CourtHelp DIY Small Estate program builds the small estate affidavit.
Is there free help with probate in Bronx County?
Yes. The Surrogate's Court Help Center helps people who are not represented by an attorney with procedural information, court rules, forms, and referrals at (718) 618-1722 (English) or (718) 618-1744 (Espanol); it gives procedural help, not legal advice. The City Bar Justice Center Planning and Estates Law Project offers guidance for income-eligible New Yorkers, and LawHelpNY (lawhelpny.org) offers self-help information online.
How do I file the original will in Bronx County?
The original will is filed with the Probate Department. If you e-file the proceeding through NYSCEF, scan the will without unstapling it and file the original paper will with the court within two business days; a certified copy of the death certificate must also be filed within two business days. Before opening a matter, search the decedent's last name in the court's records so you do not duplicate an open file.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.