Use This County Probate Reference Before You File
This page is built for the detailed county-level checks that generic probate guides usually miss: local filing fees, clerk contact details, administrative orders, e-filing rules, and hearing logistics for Erie County.
Local Fee Schedule
Review county-specific probate filing charges before you estimate total case cost.
Court Rules and Orders
Check the local rules, judge procedures, and administrative orders that can change how a case moves.
Clerk and Filing Logistics
Confirm where to file, whether e-filing is allowed, and how hearings or notices are handled locally.
Erie County Probate Court Guide
New York State Unified Court System probate court information · Updated May 2026
Filing & Fees
Fee Schedule Signals
Source ↗Probate Filing Fees
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
Small Estate Affidavit For estates under threshold (no court filing needed) | $1 |
Note: Voluntary administration filing fee is listed by CourtHelp as $1. Probate and administration filing fees are value-based under SCPA 2402.
Voluntary administration filing fee is listed by CourtHelp as $1. Probate and administration filing fees are value-based under SCPA 2402.
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Copy of the paid funeral bill
- Petition for Letters of Administration from the New York Surrogate's Court forms set
- Names and addresses of distributees
- List of known assets and debts
- Citation, waiver, consent, renunciation, bond, family-tree, or due-diligence materials if required by the form set or court
- Filing fee based on estate value under SCPA 2402
E-Filing & Filing Methods
Source ↗Records portal
Use this county-linked source to check live court-record information when available. Search results may not include every probate record.
The Erie Surrogate's Court page includes WebSurrogate updates and a public-access flyer. Erie County WebSurrogate access is limited, including post-02/19/2014 document image limits for internet users, so records must be verified with the court. Direct WebSurrogate domain URLs are not used as product-facing links without terms review.
Timelines & Proceedings
Deadlines & Creditor Claims
Key Deadlines
- Will Deposit
- 0 days
- Creditor Claims
- 7 months
Creditor Claims
- Period Starts
- case-specific fiduciary authority and claims process
- Statute
- Verify under SCPA/EPTL for the proceeding
Related Proceedings
Property Recording
Source ↗Erie County Real Property Tax Services
Erie County provides online payment and tax inquiry for current City of Buffalo Erie County property taxes and delinquent Erie County taxes for any town or city in the county.
Sources (8)
- https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/erie-county-surrogates-court
- https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/courts/8jd/pdfs/Surrogates/Will%20websurr%20FLYER%20%20-%20Public%20Access%20to%20Court%20Records%20QR%20Final.pdf
- https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/HomePage
- https://nycourts.gov/CourtHelp/WhenSomeoneDies/probate.shtml
- https://nycourts.gov/CourtHelp/WhenSomeoneDies/smallEstate.shtml
- https://www.nycourts.gov/surrogates-court-forms
- https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/SCP/1301
- https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/SCP/2402