Experienced probate attorney for New York Surrogate's Court Cases - probate, administration, kinship, ancillary probate
In this article we will review the inheritance rights of first cousins, first cousins once removed, and second cousins under New York law.
People often use the “cousin” terms loosely, as if they were interchangeable. For family and social purposes they are interchangeable, but legally they are decidedly NOT. This distinction arises in two particular…
At some point everyone “thinks about making a Will”. Some turn the thought into action and do it. Some don’t.
As a lawyer I say everyone should act on this thought, but in reality the consequences of not acting may not be SO bad, IF the results would be relatively the same with or without…
Under New York law, when a person dies without a Will, sometimes first cousins CAN inherit, subject to certain special rules.
The most significant rule is that while first cousins can inherit, generally they cannot serve as fiduciary. This job goes to the Public Administrator if the County has one (5 boros, Nassau, Suffolk and…
WHO SHOULD MAKE A WILL AND WHY DON’T THEY?
What happens when a person dies without a Will? Contrary to popular misconception, their assets do NOT “go to the State”. Their assets go to “family members” under the State’s laws of intestacy. So, the question any sane person with assets should be asking is “Who…
Sometimes people write down their wishes or give written directions regarding what they want done after they die. Sometimes they even call it a Will.
Will these be considered a Will? NO
Sometimes people who would benefit from such writings ask me, as a lawyer, to bring these writings to the Courts attention. They are…
If a fiduciary (in NY it’s an “Administrator” if no Will and “Executor” if there is) has to file an Accounting, where should they start? What should they do?
The Answer is to know what you should have been doing all along, and if you haven’t been, get caught up as much and as quickly…
When someone is a fiduciary (Executor or Administrator) of an Estate, they are accountable to the people who have an interest in the Estate. This includes the beneficiaries. When they are doing their job correctly, they are transparent, honest, and communicative.
What if they aren’t doing those things? What if they are being secretive, or…
When I start representing someone who is about to become a Fiduciary (Executor or Administrator) of an Estate, I always talk about “how an Estate finishes”. Like many things in life and business, if you know where you are trying to go it is much easier to make a good plan to get there.
Not…
There are two types of Surrogate’s Court Petitions that often give a lot a value. These are:
Petition to Compel Production of a Will and Petition to Compel an Accounting. These are proceedings that can be used when you are trying to get things going and nothing is happening. Not only are these petitions relatively…
Sometimes in Surrogate’s Court proceedings there are parties who have an interest in the proceedings but for some reason they cannot legally participate. This can occur in any type of proceeding: Probate, Administration and Accounting are the most common. A party is considered “interested” if the proceeding affects them in some way. In order to…