Probate Application You can file documents online using the NYSCEF, the electronic filing system of New York State courts. Check if you can do so on the list of counties to file your electronic application with the substitute court. If you are concerned that the inheritance will take a long time to resolve, know that you can ask the court to set aside funds for the deceased's surviving spouse and minor children. That way, you can ensure that your basic needs are being met while the estate goes through the succession process.
Some measures to avoid probate legalization are fairly simple, but others may require the help of an experienced estate planning, tax and estate lawyer. Here's what you need to know about filing for probate without an attorney, including a step-by-step breakdown of the process. Once the probate petition is filed with the court, a hearing can be scheduled in which the court will approve the chosen executor or appoint someone to act on behalf of the estate. Since an estate cannot be distributed to beneficiaries until the will has been legalized, the length of the succession process directly affects the beneficiaries.
Most of the time, the law allows certain properties to evade the legalization of probate as long as they do not exceed a certain dollar amount in value. On the other hand, assets that are owned by a trust, such as a living trust, are not testamentary assets and are not distributed by the probate court. If you are not sure what an estate lawyer is used for or the requirements of the state where the deceased person lived, you can contact a probate lawyer for answers. Once the will has been located, the first step in the probate process is to file a petition with the probate court requesting that the will be approved.
To do this, you will need to obtain the succession petition form, a certified copy of the death certificate and the valid will executed by the deceased. Some states allow informal probate, meaning that the executor of the estate is responsible for most tasks without direct court approval. The entire probate process can take a few months to a year or more, depending on the complexity of the estate and the court's schedule. In this case, the probate court will refer to probate laws to determine who should be appointed administrator (rather than executor).
Once you have filed your petition to legalize a will, it's time to notify all parties of the action you just took. Persons entitled to notice of succession § 7 List all individuals and organizations, except those already listed in Article 6, that are designated or named in the will as provided for in the instructions in the petition. Also include the names and addresses of any principal executor, of all persons adversely affected by the alleged exercise by that will of any power of appointment, of all persons adversely affected by any codicil, and of all persons who have interests under any other will of the deceased filed with the Surrogate Court.
