Probate in New York comes with a number of costs that families should plan for. There are court filing fees, attorney fees, executor or administrator commissions (set by New York law as a percentage of the estate), appraisal fees for the property, and the ongoing carrying costs of the home — property taxes, insurance, utilities, and basic maintenance — which keep accruing the entire time the estate is open.
These numbers can add up quickly, especially when an estate is contested or takes a long time to settle. In some situations selling the property earlier in the process reduces the carrying-cost burden and gets money to the heirs sooner. In other situations it makes more sense to wait. Which path is right depends entirely on the specifics of the estate, the property condition, and the family's circumstances — Sam is happy to walk through it with you.