# Where There's a Will: Where ARE the Wills in NYC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 11, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-theres-a-will-where-are-the-wills-in-nyc/194400 "2003-08-11T15:37:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-theres-a-will-where-are-the-wills-in-nyc/194400/1 "2003-08-11T15:37:56Z")
A friend of mine in London is writing a biography of [The Dolly Sisters](http://www.streetswing.com/histmai2/d2dolly1.htm) (no, dammit, he refuses to title it _Valley of the Dollies_). He is looking for the will of Rosie Dolly, who died in NYC as “Rosie Dolly Netcher” on Feb. 1, 1970. Does anyone know how he would go about locating a copy of her will? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-theres-a-will-where-are-the-wills-in-nyc/194400/2 "2003-08-11T15:44:02Z")
[New York City Surrogate Court](http://www.courts.state.ny.us/courts/nyc/surrogates/index.shtml) is where wills are probated. They should have the information. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-theres-a-will-where-are-the-wills-in-nyc/194400/3 "2003-08-11T15:47:03Z")
Filed with the Surrogate’s Court, **Eve**. Outside the city, there’s one in each county, though in some cases, I believe that it’s integrated with the County Court proper. I _think_ it’s true within the City of New York as well, but it may well be consolidated with the city court system. Start with the Borough Office that she died in (the borough, not the office), and see what you can find about where probate is done in that borough. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-theres-a-will-where-are-the-wills-in-nyc/194400/4 "2003-08-11T16:06:15Z")
That link doesn’t work, **Reality** —do you have another? ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-theres-a-will-where-are-the-wills-in-nyc/194400/5 "2003-08-11T16:36:49Z")
Assuming that Ms. Dolly’s will was probabed in New York City (most likely if she was a resident of the City at the time of her death), her will would be on file at the [surrogate’s court](http://www.nycourts.gov/courts/nyc/surrogates/index.shtml) for the county of her residence. If you need more info, drop me an e-mail and I may be able to help. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-theres-a-will-where-are-the-wills-in-nyc/194400/6 "2003-08-11T16:47:22Z")
Thabnks! Info duly forwarded to my friend. Maybe he will be grateful enough to take my titling suggestion . . . ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-theres-a-will-where-are-the-wills-in-nyc/194400/7 "2003-08-12T16:06:39Z")
Just got a message from him: “Thanks for this & so managed to track them down all wills are lodged at the Surrogate Court, Chambers Street Apparently it is dead easy - look at index, find listing, get the document and photocopy for a few mere cents. However, they will only do a remote search for $90 - no fee if you toddle down and do it yourself! So will have to wait until my next trip!” Hmmm . . . Ya think he’s hinting maybe I could go down and do it for him?