Navigating

the probate process

When a person passes away, a lawyer is often called in to handle the paperwork involved with settling an estate's assets. "Probate" is a legal proceeding that rules on the validity of a will and vests the Surrogate's Court (in New York) with oversight responsibility. If a person dies without a will, the process appoints an estate administrator rather than an executor. The law firm of Susan G. Parker Law Associates, P.C. has over 30 years of experience handling estates, both large and small.

Probate Process in Briarcliff Manor, Mount Kisco, Westchester County, NY

Probate and estate administration are often pain-staking, detail-oriented processes that involve a lot of paperwork. It can be easy or hard, costly or not, depending on the assets held in the estate, number of beneficiaries, and the difficulty of giving notice of probate to necessary parties.

Factors that Contribute to Probate Process

Assets are owned in decedent's name alone - real estate, closely-held business, bank accounts, etc.
Decedent fails to name beneficiaries on accounts or life insurance policies; these assets pass to the estate and go through probate.
Decedents "heirs at law" those who would inherit if there is no will, must all be identified, located and notified of probate.
Heirs at law and heirs under the will must sign off on the appointment of the executor; failure to do so can result in a will contest.
Engaging a genealogy expert to identify and locate overseas heirs of immigrants who had no children.
Difficulty in serving notice of probate on people (relatives and/or beneficiaries) who reside overseas.

ASSETS NOT INCLUDED IN PROBATE

IRAs and 401k Benefits pass to the person named in the beneficiary designation form.
Life insurance passes to the beneficiary named in the policy.
Jointly owned property passes to the surviving joint owner unless held as "tenants in common."
Property held in trust does not go through probate.
Spousal benefits paid to a surviving spouse under employer plans

Estate Administration

A petition is filed in Surrogate's Court for the appointment of the executor of an estate (if there is a will) or an estate administrator (if there is no will). With probate, the process is designed to determine if a will is valid and to make sure the necessary parties are given notice of the proceeding. This means that everyone named in the will and everyone who would have inherited had there been no will (intestate takers) receives notice of the proceeding.

If there is no will, an estate administrator (who can be a family member or even a creditor) is nominated through a petition. Those who inherit when there is no will (intestate takers) receive notice. These intestate takers are typically a spouse (if married), children (if any), and parents, siblings, or nieces and nephews depending on the circumstances. Significant others, unmarried "partners", and even unmarried parents to one's children, do not get notice.

As part of the Surrogate's Court petition, you must prove you have served notice on all people entitled to receive it. The petition is filed in the county where the decedent resided, and a filing fee based on the size of the estate is also submitted. In New York State, the maximum filing fee is $1250, if the estate is worth $500,000 or more. The fee is based on "probate assets", which are only those which are owned in the decedent's name alone. An asset that names a beneficiary or is co-owned with a right of survivorship is not a probate asset. Most notably, trusts are not probate assets, thus they are said to "avoid probate."

It generally takes up to two months for the Surrogate Court to issue letters. These empower the appointed person to act on behalf of the estate. The first step is obtain a tax I.D. for the estate (like a social security number for a person). Then the process of estate administration begins: paying bills, collecting estate assets, selling a home or business. So-called "preliminary letters" of appointment may enable a "nominated executor" to sell a home before actual letters are issued.

Assets that are owned in the decedent's name alone must pass through probate to change the title. So, for example, if there is a deed in the name of one person, or the surviving spouse, probate is needed to sell the property. However, if property is jointly owned or names a beneficiary, that person inherits the property and estate administration is not needed. There is no way to name a successor owner for real estate apart from joint ownership on a deed or transferring the property to a trust.

Typically a bank or investment firm will release jointly owned assets or assets to a named beneficiary, upon a showing of a death certificate by the beneficiary. Sometimes they do ask for letters which appoint the executor or administrator, but the latter should not be necessary.

Our firm is often hired to file the petition and oversee estate administration.

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