Upon the death of a person, an initial determination needs to be made as to whether there exists a Last Will and Testament. The presence of a Will has great significance. This estate planning document typically contains written provisions concerning the manner in which a person’s probate estate is to be distributed. A Will may have directions providing for specific gifts to named persons or institutions or there may be dispositions to a group of beneficiaries based upon percentages or shares. In addition, there is usually a provision designating the executors, and sometimes trustees if a Will establishes a testamentary trust.
In the event a Will does not exist, the disposition of a New York estate is made to a decedent’s next of kin according to the priority established in Estates, Powers and Trusts Law section 4-1.1 entitled “Descent and distribution of a decedent’s estate.” The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has published many articles regarding estate settlement.
Where a person creates a Will, it is essential that the original paper be obtained to be filed with the Surrogate’s Court. The probate process requires that the original Will bearing the original signature of the testator and the attesting witnesses be produced. A common problem which occurs is that a copy of a decedent’s Will is found but not the original. Nowadays, very often after a Will is executed the original is kept by the testator. Where a Will is signed many years before death, locating the original among a decedent’s personal affects may be troublesome, especially if a decedent had moved residences over time and had not provided a secure location for the document.