The New York probate process will vary, depending on whether the deceased had a will or trust or had no such documents expressing their last wishes. After someone dies, their assets, property, and other belongings, which are called their estate, have to be distributed to surviving loved ones, called heirs.
In addition, any outstanding debts must be paid. There are also estate taxes that have to be paid. To accomplish this, the probate process is used in New York through what is called the Surrogate Court. The role the Surrogate Court plays in the probate process will vary, depending on the documentation or lack thereof the deceased had.
Ultimately, their primary role is to oversee the estate and approve distributions to the appropriate parties. Before any distributions can be made to charities and surviving loved ones, the estate must first pay outstanding debts and estates taxes.
If the deceased had a will or trust, then they should have named an estate executor. This person is responsible for performing specific tasks to distribute the estate. They will obtain permissions from the Surrogate Court as needed throughout the probate process.
If the deceased did not have a will or trust or did not name an executor, the Surrogate Court will appoint an estate administrator. The administrator has similar responsibilities as an executor. If the surviving loved ones do not believe the estate is being handled correctly, there are specific legal actions they can take, such as contesting a will or requesting the removal of the executor.
What Steps Are There in New York Probate Process?
In general, there are three basic steps in the New York probate process, as follows:
Step 1: Inventory and Appraise the Estate
The executor will need to review the deceased’s assets. They have to make an inventory of all property. Afterward, they must assign a monetary amount to each item, which could require expert appraisals. The overall objective is to determine how much the estate is worth.
Step 2: Satisfy Outstanding Debts and Pay Taxes
The next step is to pay any outstanding debts the deceased owed. This could include loans, credit cards, and other financial obligations. The executor will also pay estate taxes owed. If there is not sufficient cash to pay all debts and taxes, the executor can liquidate assets to ensure they are paid.
Step 3: Distribute the Remaining Estate to Heirs
If there is a will, then the executor makes distributions based on the last wishes of the deceased. In some cases, where assets had to be liquidated, the heirs may not receive the assets or property promised in the will.
If there is a trust, the probate process will vary slightly, depending on the type of trust the deceased had. If there was no will or trust, then the court-appointed administrator takes care of each of these steps.
Please keep in mind, this is just an overview of the process. New York State probate rules, the size of the estate, and other factors that could require additional steps are not covered here. Nor should the information presented here be considered legal advice. This is why it is important to make a list of questions for a probate attorney to get the answers and legal advice you need.
A probate attorney can also help with the execution of a will or trust, as well as provide guidance for the executor during the probate process. For further legal advice and assistance with the New York probate process, please feel free to contact Joseph A. Ledwidge PC at 718-276-6656 today!
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