Page 32 - Powell Funeral Guide
P. 32

Surrogate Court. If you are the nominated                 day, and each non- consenting person
       executor, or a person eligible to serve                   must be formally served in accordance
       as administrator, you should consult                      with New York State law.
       with your attorney and provide the
       information and documents listed above.                   Presuming the administration or probate
       Your attorney will prepare the petition                   petition  is  accepted,  the  executor  or
       for probate or administration. Filing fees                administrator will receive their letters
       are paid on a sliding scale depending on                  testamentary from the Surrogate’s Court.
       the size of the estate.                                   Original certificates will be required for
                                                                 a variety of purposes, and so we advise

       Under New York State law, certain people                  our clients to obtain several extra copies.
       are entitled to notice of the probate or                  The executor will need these certificates
       administration of the estate - namely                     in order to transfer title to any assets (i.e.
       the beneficiaries, fiduciaries, and “heirs                funds in bank accounts, sell real estate),
       at law” of the decedent. The probate or                   and to open the estate bank account.
       administration process will be substantially
       simplified if these individuals consent to                TIP: If you are the fiduciary of a loved
       the relief requested in the probate or                    one’s estate, check the office of
       administration petition, and waive the                    unclaimed funds via the New York State
       issuance of formal process. This will be                  Comptroller’s website to see whether the
       the case where there are no objections to                 decedent is entitled to any “unclaimed
       the appointment of the name fiduciary or                  funds”.
       applicant, and there are no objections to
       the disposition of assets provided for in                 Once  the  executor  or  administrator  has
       the will. If the persons entitled to notice               located and gathered all of the assets
       do not consent to the relief requested in                 of the decedent, they will manage the
       the petition and waive the issuance of                    funds in a prudent manner, pay off the
       formal process, then the Court will issue a               decedent’s debts and distribute the
       “citation” to appear in Court on a certain                funds as per the terms of the decedent’s



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