The fundamental goal of estate settlement is to collect the decedent’s assets, pay all claims and administration expenses and distribute the net estate to beneficiaries. New York estate administration attorneys help their clients accomplish these tasks. Both executors and administrators have fiduciary duties to see to it that the decedent’s…
One of the most important papers that are part of all estate cases is a death certificate. While this statement appears obvious, the presentation of the certificate to the Court and the information contained therein can create roadblocks and issues that need to be overcome. A New York City estate…
One of the most important papers that are prepared in estate planning is a Last Will and Testament. A lot of time and effort can be spent when finalizing a Will. The process includes many items, such as (i) reviewing and understanding the assets that are to be a part…
One of the reasons for a person to engage in Estate Planning and to prepare a Last Will is to provide a nomination in the Will for Executors and Trustees. When a person dies intestate (no Will) the estate laws designate the persons entitled to act as administrator. The New…
Probating a Will in New York is usually not a contentious process. The original Will is filed with the Court and typically the person named in the Will as the Executor prepares and files a Probate Petition. When a Will is admitted to probate, the Court issues Letters Testamentary to…
The executor or administrator of a New York estate is required to consider many factors when administering an estate. One of the items that the fiduciary needs to review is whether estate taxes need to be paid. In the year 2017 the Federal Estate tax exemption is $5,490,000. New York…
In most instances the filing of a Last Will for probate is a straight forward process. The New York Probate Lawyer Blog has posted many articles regarding the probate of a Will. The typical persons who petition the Court in these proceedings are close relatives such as a spouse or…
There have been numerous posts in the New York Probate Lawyer Blog which describe the basic process to settle an estate. A brief review of these facts is always helpful: 1. First it is essential to determine whether the decedent died leaving a Last Will or without a Will (intestate).…
When a person dies leaving a Last Will and Testament the Will is typically filed with the Court in the probate process. An essential provision in a Will is naming the persons to be appointed as Executor. The Executor is the person who is responsible for estate settlement such…
When a decedent dies his estate is subject to the process of either probate or intestate administration. It is not uncommon that in either situation there may be many issues that require estate litigation in the Surrogate’s Court. These controversies can take many forms such as Will Contests, Kinship Hearings…