Nassau & Suffolk Surrogate’s Courts: Long Island Estate Jurisdiction

Long Island is served by two separate Surrogate’s Courts, not one: the Nassau County Surrogate’s Court at 262 Old Country Road in Mineola, and the Suffolk County Surrogate’s Court at 320 Center Drive in Riverhead. The court that has jurisdiction over an estate is determined by the decedent’s county of domicile under SCPA 205-206 — a Nassau resident’s estate is handled in Mineola, a Suffolk resident’s in Riverhead. These courts probate wills, appoint executors and administrators, and resolve estate disputes.

A common Long Island mistake is assuming “the Long Island Surrogate’s Court” exists. It does not. Nassau and Suffolk are distinct counties with distinct courts.

Which court has jurisdiction over your estate?

Domicile (definition): The place a person treats as their permanent home and intends to return to. Domicile — not where someone died or owned property — sets the venue for the estate.

Under SCPA 205 and 206, an estate is administered in the Surrogate’s Court of the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. So:

• A retiree domiciled in Levittown, Hempstead, or Garden City → Nassau Surrogate’s Court, Mineola.
• A resident domiciled in Huntington, Smithtown, or Montauk → Suffolk Surrogate’s Court, Riverhead.

If a Suffolk decedent owned a vacation condo in Nassau, the estate is still administered in Suffolk — domicile controls, not where property sits.

Court identity at a glance

	Nassau County Surrogate’s Court	Suffolk County Surrogate’s Court
Address	262 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY 11501	320 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY 11901
Phone (verify)	516-493-3800	631-852-1745
County seat	Mineola	Riverhead
E-filing	NYSCEF	NYSCEF

What the Surrogate’s Court handles

Both courts have jurisdiction under the SCPA over matters involving decedents’ estates and certain living-person proceedings, including:

• Probate of wills and issuance of letters testamentary
• Administration of intestate estates (no will) and letters of administration
• Accountings by executors, administrators, and trustees
• Will contests and other estate litigation
• Kinship proceedings to identify unknown heirs
• Guardianship of property for minors (note: Article 81 adult guardianship is handled in Supreme Court, not Surrogate’s)
• Adoptions

The domicile rule and why venue matters (SCPA 205/206)

Filing in the wrong county wastes time and money. Because SCPA 205-206 fix venue by domicile, the executor must determine the decedent’s true county of domicile before filing. For someone who split time between a Nassau home and a Suffolk East-End house, domicile turns on intent and indicators like voter registration, driver’s license address, and where they spent most of their time. Getting this right at the outset avoids a transfer or dismissal later.

Local procedure realities

Both Nassau and Suffolk participate in NYSCEF, New York’s electronic filing system, so many filings can be submitted online. Each court maintains a help center for self-represented people, but staff cannot give legal advice. A practical Long Island consideration: the Suffolk court sits in Riverhead, on the far eastern end of the county. A family in western Suffolk — Babylon, Huntington, Islip — faces a meaningful drive for in-person appointments, which makes e-filing and counsel especially valuable. Nassau’s Mineola court is centrally located near the county seat and courts complex, generally easier to reach.

Key court personnel (roles, not names)

The Surrogate: The elected judge who presides over the Surrogate’s Court and decides probate, administration, and contested matters. Chief Clerk: The senior administrative officer who oversees filings, the calendar, and court operations.

Each county elects its own Surrogate. Refer to the official court directory for current personnel rather than relying on any name found online.

Self-represented vs. represented filers

Simple, uncontested small estates are sometimes handled pro se through a court help center, especially the SCPA Article 13 small-estate process. But full probate of a Long Island home, any will contest, or estate-tax filings realistically call for counsel — the formalities are unforgiving and a misstep can delay the whole estate.

Three Long Island filing realities

1. Two courts, one region. Confirm county of domicile first; never assume “Long Island” means one court.
2. Riverhead distance. Suffolk filers from the western county should plan around the Riverhead location and lean on NYSCEF.
3. Real property dominates. Because Long Island estates usually include a deeded home, expect title-transfer steps the co-op-heavy city courts do not see as often.

Frequently asked questions

Is there one Long Island Surrogate’s Court? No. Nassau (Mineola) and Suffolk (Riverhead) are separate courts. The decedent’s county of domicile decides which has jurisdiction under SCPA 205-206.

My parent died in a hospital in Nassau but lived in Suffolk — where do I file? In Suffolk (Riverhead). Venue follows domicile, not the place of death.

Can I e-file with these courts? Yes — both Nassau and Suffolk use NYSCEF for electronic filing, though some matters may still require original documents like the will.

Does the Surrogate’s Court handle guardianship of my disabled adult relative? Adult (Article 81) guardianship is handled in Supreme Court, not Surrogate’s Court. The Surrogate’s Court handles guardianship of a minor’s property and estate matters.

Need to file in Mineola or Riverhead? Book a 30-minute consultation with Russel Morgan, and see our probate process and executor duties guides.