Bronx County, New York Probate Court Records

The Bronx County Surrogate’s Court handles probate matters in Bronx County just like other Surrogates’ Courts in different parts of New York hear similar cases. In Bronx County, the Surrogate’s Court oversees proceedings concerning the affairs (estate) of a decedent (person who passed away). The Surrogate’s Court grants an administrator or an executor the legal power to handle an estate and distribute the money, property, or other assets according to the law or according to the Will, if the deceased person left one.

The Bronx County Surrogate’s Court also handles adoptions and cases where an individual is asked to assume the role of guardian of the property of an infant (before the age of 18) or the guardian of a person who became intellectually or developmentally disabled before age twenty-two (22) or suffered a traumatic brain injury at any age.

The Bronx County Surrogate’s Court and other Surrogates’ Courts in New York maintain probate court records, including wills, inventories, and related files in estate proceedings. In Bronx County Surrogate’s Court, a probate court record is the legal court document generated when an estate, guardianship, or related proceeding is opened. The file contains information stating:

• That a will was admitted (or that the decedent died intestate)
• Who was appointed as executor or administrator
• What assets belonged to the estate
• What debts and taxes were paid
• How and to whom the balance was finally distributed

Although the components of a probate file may vary statewide, a standard Bronx probate file often includes the following elements:

• Will (Last Will and Testament): This is a written document stating how the decedent’s property should be distributed after their death and names an executor.
• Petitions: These documents provide basic information (death, heirs, assets) and request that the court appoint afiduciary(executor or administrator). This may be a petition for probate where the decedent left a will or letters of administration if there is no will.
• Court orders and decrees: Decrees admit the will, appoint the fiduciary, resolve creditor disputes, approve accountings, or settle wrongful-death or other compromises.
• Letters Testamentary/Letters of Administration: These refer to legal documents issued by the Surrogate granting the executor (where there is a will) or administrator (no will) the legal authority to act on behalf of the estate.
• Estate inventories and appraisals: Lists of the decedent’s properties and their estimated values, often required for tax and accounting purposes.
• Creditor claims and related papers: Claims filed by creditors and schedules of debts in the estate accounting showing which claims were allowed or rejected.
• Accountings (interim and final): Comprehensive estate accountings detailing all assets received, income, expenses, payments to creditors, and distributions to beneficiaries.
• Guardianship petitions and orders: Bronx Surrogate’s Court may have Article 17 or 17-A guardianship files, such as petitions, medical or affidavit evidence, and orders appointing and supervising guardians, in cases involving minors or persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities
• Receipts, releases, and closing documents: These are documents that confirm the distributions and release the fiduciary from liability, as well as any final decrees discharging the fiduciary and closing the estate.

Public Access to Probate Court Records in Bronx County

Bronx County probate records and other similar records held by Surrogates’ Courts in different parts of New York are considered open to the public unless a law or court order states otherwise. This means that probate records kept by the Bronx County Surrogate’s Court (e.g., wills, administration files, accountings, etc.) are generally accessible to anyone unless a specific file or document has been sealed.

It is important to note that access to probate records in New York, including Bronx County, is governed by the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act (SCPA), not the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL).

New York strongly believes in the general presumption of public access to court records. Under 22 NYCRR § 216.1, a court may seal records only after entering a written finding of good cause, after weighing public and private interests. Despite the belief in the openness of public records, New York law identifies certain probate-related records as confidential or sealed. These include:

• Adoption records
• Guardianship proceedings under SCPA Articles 17 and 17-A, including death certificates, tax returns, and firearms inventories
• Sealed or partially sealed probate files
• Confidential identifiers (e.g., Social Security numbers, full account numbers, or similar details) and certain internal documents.

Methods for Searching Bronx County Probate Court Records

Requesters seeking probate court records in Bronx County may find them using the following resources:

Online via WebSurrogate

This is a free statewide online system for Surrogates’ Courts, maintained by New York’s Unified Court System. The portal allows searches using the party’s (decedent) name or file number. For historical cases, they may search using the “will search” or “old index search” buttons. Visitors may use the court drop-down to narrow results to “Bronx County Surrogate’s Court” and also filter via date range.WebSurrogate displays public case information and often allows requesters access to public documents online.

In person: Records Room/Clerk’s Indexes

Requesters may visit the Bronx Surrogate’s Court in person (during business hours) to search probate cases. The Surrogate’s Court records room possesses indexes and docket books that staff use to locate files. Searches typically occur using the decedent’s full name (and spelling variants), approximate date of death or filing date, file or docket number (if available), and type of proceeding (probate, administration, small estate, etc.). Subsequently, the clerks retrieve the paper or electronic file for the requesters to review.

Assisted Searches: Phone/Email Inquiries

Requesters may also make phone or email inquiries after accessing contact information through the Bronx Surrogate’s Court’s Help Center. They may call or email with a party’s (decedent) name and approximate date of death to confirm if a file exists. After verifying the record's existence, they may choose to view it in person, order copies by mail, or use WebSurrogate if the file is available online.

Note: Although WebSurrogate is accessible throughout the state, the availability of information varies by counties and judicial districts. While some counties rely heavily on WebSurrogate, others may prioritise in-person or mail-based searches.

How to Find Bronx County Probate Cases Online for Free

In Bronx County (and New York generally), access to free probate cases is typically through the primary, official online system, WebSurrogate.

WebSurrogate is a free, statewide web portal that encompasses all New York Surrogate’s Courts, including Bronx County Surrogate’s Court. This web portal, provided by the New York Court System, allows users to search estate and other Surrogate’s Court filings through a name search (party or decedent name, with optional date-of-death filters), file search, old index search, index book pages, and will search (for historical records).

Individuals seeking free, public probate records in Bronx County may locate case or docket information (e.g., parties, file type, status, events). They may also view and download PDFs of filed documents (e.g., petitions, decrees, some wills, and orders) for most cases, provided they are not classified as confidential or marked as “NOT PUBLIC.”

Although using WebSurrogate does not involve a subscription fee or per-search charge, not all historical files are accessible online; inquirers may only access some documents in person or by mail.

Note: WebSurrogate may list guardianships, sealed records, and documents flagged as “NOT PUBLIC.” However, requesters cannot view such records online.

Accessing Bronx County Probate Court Records in Person

To access Bronx County probate court records in person, interested parties are expected to visit the Surrogate’s Court at:

While at the premises, requesters are expected to go to the records room or the clerk’s office to use name indexes (sometimes in bound index books, sometimes on a computer terminal) to locate the case. Inquirers typically search the probate index using the decedent’s name; the search often yields the file number/index number, and sometimes a liber (volume) and page reference.

After the records clerk is provided with the file number/index number, they retrieve the probate file for the requester to inspect in the records room. In-person review of probate records incurs no fee, but copying pages attracts per-page fees and extra charges for certified copies.

Under New York’s general public-access rules, individuals are not expected to supply ID to view ordinary probate records. However, individual courts, such as the Bronx County Surrogate’s Court, may adopt local rules specifying ID requirements, payment methods, or appointment procedures for the record room. Therefore, it is advisable that interested persons check the Bronx Surrogate’s Court page through the NYC Courts site or the NYC 311 Surrogate Court information page for relevant information.

Requesting Bronx County Probate Court Records by Mail

To request public Bronx County probate court records by post, interested parties may follow the step-by-step guide below.

1. Obtain basic case information (if available)

Before sending their mail request, applicants may utilize Surrogate to acquire or confirm basic case details. Using the free online search tool, prospective applicants may search Surrogate’s Court files across the state, including Bronx County, by decedent name and file number to view basic file history and considerable public documents. From their WebSurrogate search, they may note the decedent’s complete name, file number (if shown), date of death or approximate year, and the specific county the case was heard.

2. Draft a request letter

The New York State Archives probate finder recommends that Surrogate’s Courts mail requests be written in “succinct and specific terms, ” clearly stating the decedent’s name and date of death. Consequently, an ideal mail-in request for Bronx County probate court records will include:

• Decedent’s complete official name (and any aliases, if relevant)
• Date of death
• File number, if known
• The county of domicile/probate (Bronx County)
• Type of document being requested (e.g., copy of the will, decree admitting will, letters testamentary/administration, final accounting, etc.)
• Whether seeking plain copies or certified copies

3. Acknowledge that fees apply and arrange payment
In New York, official sources of probate court documents state that the fees for ordering records by mail depend on the scope of the search, the number of pages copied, and whether certification is requested. Therefore, an applicant is expected to state in their written mail request that they understand that search and copy fees will apply. They may either ask the court to inform them of the total cost before processing or authorize charges up to a specific amount. Payments are typically made by money order or bank/attorney check; do not send cash by mail. Applicants may confirm payment details with the Bronx Surrogate’s Court or its Help Center.

4. Include contact information and a self-addressed envelope

To enable the court to contact them and return documents, applicants are expected to:

• Provide their complete name, mailing address, phone number, and email in the letter.
• Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) that is large enough to contain the copies they are requesting.

5. Mail the request to the Surrogate’s Court

Subsequently, applicants are expected to send their application to:

Applicants are advised to utilize regular mail or a trackable service for vital or time-sensitive documents.

Bronx County Probate Court Record Access Methods

Applicable Fees for Bronx County Probate Court Record Requests

Fees for probate records are set across New York State by Article 24 of the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act (SCPA). These fees apply to each county’s Surrogate’s Court.

In New York, standard fees individuals seeking probate records may encounter include:

• Search/index fees: Typically apply when requesting a search by name or date of death, or for a formal certified search.
• Per-page copy/printing fees (on-site): Usually charged for photocopying or printing documents from public terminals in the records room.
• Certified copies and exemplifications: Charged when requesting certified copies for court, financial institutions, or other legal use.
• Mail requests, postage, and payment methods: Charges related to mail-in application
• Online access fees (WebSurrogate): Free unless the requester orders certified paper copies or uses in-court printers or copiers.