Quick answer: New York's probate filing fee is graduated by estate size under SCPA § 2402 — from $45 for an estate under $10,000 up to $1,250 for estates of $500,000 or more. It's a flat fee per band, the same in every county's Surrogate's Court, and small next to the executor commission and attorney fee.
The SCPA § 2402 fee scale
Probate is filed with the Surrogate's Court of the county where the person lived — New York (Manhattan), Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Bronx, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and the rest. The petition fee is set statewide by statute and depends on the value of the estate:
| Estate value | Filing fee (§ 2402) |
|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | $45 |
| $10,000 – $19,999 | $75 |
| $20,000 – $49,999 | $215 |
| $50,000 – $99,999 | $280 |
| $100,000 – $249,999 | $420 |
| $250,000 – $499,999 | $625 |
| $500,000 and over | $1,250 |
SCPA § 2402 probate petition fee, statewide. Small estates use a lower voluntary-administration fee. Confirm with the county Surrogate's Court.
Other court-related costs
- Publication — citation/notice may need to be published; roughly $100–$400 depending on county.
- Certified Letters Testamentary — needed by banks and title; a few dollars each, often several needed.
- Guardian ad litem — if any interested party is a minor or under disability, the court may appoint one, adding cost.
- Voluntary administration — the small-estate route ($50,000 or less) carries a much lower fee.
Where the fee sits in the total
At $45–$1,250, the filing fee is a rounding error next to the executor commission (SCPA 2307) and attorney fee (SCPA 2110) — and, for large estates, the estate-tax cliff. See the whole picture in the New York probate cost breakdown, learn about attorney fees, or estimate your total with the New York probate cost calculator.