NYC probate, handled by Surrogate's Court with one courthouse per borough, typically takes 12–24 months for average estates. High-value estates, those involving co-op apartments (which require building board approval for transfer), and contested cases can run 2–5 years. CSF provides probate advances to heirs in all five boroughs: cash now, repaid from your inheritance when Surrogate's Court closes the estate. The amount we quote is the amount you receive.
NYC-Specific Probate Challenges
New York City's unique probate challenges include: New York's state estate tax (exemption $6.94M in 2025, with a "cliff" provision that penalizes estates between 100-105% of the exemption), co-op apartment transfer requirements (requiring building board approval), and the Surrogate's Court's heavy caseload creating scheduling delays.
Learn more in our New York probate advance guide, or our probate court explainer.