When a loved one dies with property or assets tied to Long Island, New York law directs the estate through the Nassau County Surrogate’s Court. Navigating that court — filing the right petitions, managing distributee notifications, satisfying the estate’s tax obligations — demands counsel who works within Nassau County’s specific procedural environment, not a generic template lifted from another county’s playbook.
Morgan Legal Group, led by Russel Morgan, Esq., brings focused probate and estate administration practice to Nassau County families. Our work is grounded in the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act (SCPA) and the Estates, Powers and Trusts Law (EPTL) — the two statutory pillars that govern every probate proceeding in New York.
What We Do in Nassau County Probate
A typical uncontested probate in Nassau County moves through five stages:
| Stage | What Happens | Key Authority |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Petition & Filing | File Petition for Probate with original will and certified death certificate | SCPA; Nassau County Surrogate’s Court |
| 2. Jurisdiction | Secure distributee waivers/consents or serve citations | SCPA citation procedure |
| 3. Return Date | Court reviews petition; decree enters if no objection | Surrogate’s discretion |
| 4. Letters Testamentary | Executor receives formal legal authority to act | SCPA § 1414 |
| 5. Administration | Collect assets, satisfy debts and taxes, distribute to beneficiaries | EPTL; NY Tax Law |
When a beneficiary or creditor dispute creates urgency, the court may grant Preliminary Letters Testamentary under SCPA § 1412, giving the executor interim authority to preserve assets while the full probate proceeding is pending. This is a tool our Nassau County clients frequently need when estate assets — Long Island real property, brokerage accounts, business interests — require active management immediately after death.
Nassau County Details That Matter
Timeline. An uncontested probate typically resolves in three to six months; contested matters extend that window significantly. See our contested probate overview for Nassau County-specific considerations.
Court filing fees are graduated based on estate value under SCPA § 2402. The exact current schedule should be confirmed with counsel or directly with the Nassau County Surrogate’s Court — figures change and vary by circumstance.
Attorney fees for a straightforward Long Island probate generally range from $3,000 to $10,000 depending on estate complexity.
NY estate tax — 2026. New York’s basic exclusion amount is $7,350,000. Estates valued between the exclusion and $7,717,500 (the 105% “cliff”) face a sharp marginal rate; above the cliff the full estate becomes taxable. Many Long Island estates — particularly those with Nassau County real property — fall within this range and require careful planning.
Small estates. If the gross estate is modest and includes no real property, SCPA Article 13 voluntary administration may allow settlement by affidavit, bypassing full probate. Learn more on our small estate affidavit page.
Work With Russel Morgan, Esq.
Whether you are an executor seeking Letters Testamentary, a beneficiary with questions about the Surrogate’s Court process, or a family member who needs a probate overview before making any decisions, we are ready to help.
Schedule a consultation with Russel Morgan, Esq.
Resources: NY Surrogate’s Court — nycourts.gov · SCPA & EPTL — nysenate.gov · NY Estate Tax — tax.ny.gov
Further reading from Morgan Legal Group: when you should bring in a probate attorney.