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State guide
New York
Estate law, probate process, and inheritance rules for New York — in plain language.
Probate timeline
6–24 months
Small estate threshold
Under $50,000
State taxes
Estate tax: YESInheritance tax: None
Spousal rights in New York
Elective share: greater of $50,000 or one-third of the net estate
Key things to know about New York
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State estate tax applies — exemption is ~$7M but the 'cliff' effect can dramatically increase taxes
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No state inheritance tax
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NYC surrogate's court probate can be extremely slow
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Trusts are highly recommended to avoid New York's estate tax and probate delays
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