Nassau & Suffolk Surrogate’s Courts — Long Island Probate Venue & NY Law

Long Island estates are heard in one of two Surrogate’s Courts — Nassau County Surrogate’s Court in Mineola or Suffolk County Surrogate’s Court in Riverhead. The decedent’s county of domicile at death decides which (SCPA 205–206). These courts handle probate, administration, guardianship, accountings, will contests, and adoptions. There is no combined “Long Island” Surrogate’s Court.

Court Identity Blocks

Nassau County Surrogate’s Court

• Address: 262 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY 11501
• Phone: 516-493-3800
• Serves: estates of decedents domiciled in Nassau County
• E-filing: NYSCEF available

Suffolk County Surrogate’s Court

• Address: 320 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY 11901
• Phone: 631-852-1745
• Serves: estates of decedents domiciled in Suffolk County
• E-filing: NYSCEF available

Confirm current addresses, phone numbers, and room assignments with the court before relying on them.

What the Surrogate’s Court Handles

Under the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act (SCPA), each court has jurisdiction over:

• Probate — proving a will and appointing the executor (SCPA 1402)
• Administration — appointing an administrator when there is no will (SCPA 1001)
• Accountings — formal and informal, reviewing the fiduciary’s handling of the estate
• Guardianship — Article 17 guardians for minors and SCPA 17-A guardians for adults with disabilities
• Will contests and construction proceedings — disputes over validity or meaning
• Kinship proceedings — proving heirship when distributees are unknown
• Adoptions

The Domicile Rule — Why Venue Follows the County

Domicile is the decedent’s true, fixed permanent home. Under SCPA 205–206, venue follows domicile, not property location. A Huntington resident who owned a Hamptons beach house is still a Suffolk estate filed in Riverhead — even if the most valuable asset sits in Southampton. A Long Beach resident who summered in Montauk is a Nassau estate filed in Mineola. This trips up families with property in both counties.

Local Procedure: NYSCEF and Help Centers

Both Nassau and Suffolk participate in NYSCEF, New York’s electronic filing system, which lets attorneys file petitions and documents online. Self-represented filers can often still file in person and may use the court’s help center for procedural questions — though help-center staff cannot give legal advice. Suffolk’s Riverhead location means many western-Suffolk families coordinate filings remotely or through counsel rather than driving east repeatedly.

Who Runs the Court

Each county elects a Surrogate — the judge who presides over estate matters. The court’s day-to-day filings are managed by the Chief Clerk and clerical staff. (We name roles, not individuals, because elected and appointed personnel change.)

Self-Represented vs. Represented

You may appear pro se (without a lawyer), and small, uncontested estates sometimes proceed that way. But Surrogate’s Court practice is procedural and document-heavy; the help center will not draft your petition or advise on strategy. Most executors handling a home, a business, or any disagreement among heirs retain counsel.

Three Long Island Filing Realities

1. Two counties, never merged. You cannot file a Suffolk decedent’s estate in Mineola to save the drive — venue is jurisdictional.
2. The Riverhead distance is real. Suffolk’s court sits on the East End; budget travel time for any required appearance.
3. Property in both counties still files in one. Domicile controls; the out-of-county property is handled through ancillary steps within the home county’s proceeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which court do I use if my parent lived in Nassau but owned a Suffolk home? Nassau County Surrogate’s Court in Mineola. Domicile (Nassau) sets venue under SCPA 205; the Suffolk property is administered within that proceeding.

Can I e-file in Suffolk Surrogate’s Court? Yes. Suffolk participates in NYSCEF, so represented parties typically file electronically rather than traveling to Riverhead for every document.

Does the help center give legal advice? No. Court help centers explain procedure and forms but cannot advise on your specific estate or draft your petition.

Want to know which court governs your estate and what it will require? Book a 30-minute consult. See also the probate process guide and the Long Island estate guide.