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NY Letters of Administration

Why a Will is Better Than New York Letters of Administration

New York Surrogate’s Courts have jurisdiction concerning matters relating to a decedent’s estate. These Courts are located in the various state counties. For instance, there is a Suffolk County Surrogate's Court and a Nassau County Surrogate's Court.  Probate proceedings involve the filing of a Will with the Court and the proceeding whereby the Court validates the Will and appoints an Executor to carry out the Will provisions. A New York City estate planning lawyer can guide you through these proceedings.

Administration proceedings are initiated where a person dies without a Will. A decedent’s next of kin are usually appointed as Administrator and receive Letters of Administration in New York. The estate assets are then distributed according to New York law to the decedent’s statutory heirs. As a New York City lawyer, I have represented many clients and helped them obtain Letters of Administration in New York. I also provide guidance with estate settlement. Where a decedent dies intestate or without a Will, the statutes provide an order of priority as to the surviving persons who inherit the estate assets and can be appointed as an Administrator.  The first priority is a spouse and children, then parents, brothers and sisters and more distant heirs.  The person entitled to be appointed would file a petition for letters of administration with the Court.  In the event there is any question or dispute regarding the identity or status of the rightful heirs, the Court may require that a hearing on Kinship be held.  A Kinship Hearing requires the presentation of proof regarding the decedent's ancestors and the relation of the person claiming to be a relative.  This proof includes birth, death and marriage records.

While Letters of Administration are a mechanism to start the orderly transfer of assets when there is no Will, an attorney will advise you that it's best to have a Will. One reason is if you have young children. Without a Will estate funds held for the children may remain under the control and supervision of the Court until the child is 18 years old.  If you prepare a Will you can create a testamentary trust in the Will to hold the assets for the minor children and select your preferred Trustees.  Also, without a Will, your assets can be distributed according to the laws of intestary i.e. to your next of kin which may not reflect your desires. Without a Will your estate may pay more in taxes since your estate may not be properly planned to take advantage of certain aspects of the gift and estate tax laws.

Regardless of the size of an estate, most adults — young and old — and their families benefit greatly from having a well-prepared estate plan consisting of documents such as a: Last Will, Health Care Proxy, Power of Attorney and Living Will. These papers allow a person to clearly set forth the persons who will benefit from an estate and to provide for the selection of the individuals who will administer the estate and make personal and financial decisions in the event of incapacity. I graduated in the top 10% of my class at The New England School of Law in Boston. As a knowledgeable New York City attorney, I provide my clients with personal legal representation and work closely with them to achieve their goals. I have many years of experience handling matters related to New York Letters of Administration.

To contact me regarding any questions or concerns call (212) 355-2575 or fill out my contact form for an appointment with a New York City lawyer.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
I am very grateful to Mr. Jules Martin Haas attorney of law in New York. I am from Buenos Aires Argentina. He managed with expertise a very difficult situation. of a complicate heritage from my aunt Anna Grodzka that lived and died a very long time ago in New York. I recommend him not only for his extraordinary knowledge but also for his kindness. Irma CW Peusner
★★★★★
I found Mr. Haas after being misguided by a former attorney. Mr. Jules Haas took our case which involved an estate/trust dispute. What initially seemed like an impossible and overwhelming legal fight was now in the hands of someone who had the integrity and legal expertise to win our case. Mr Haas' attention to detail and his expert knowledge base, skillfully and successfully guided us through an intricate legal process. I am very thankful and grateful to Mr. Jules Haas for representing our interest and ultimately winning. Bringing about a peace of mind we needed. Thank You Devida Nedd
★★★★★
I was in need of a guardianship attorney and I hired the services of Jules M. Haas' Law firm. The service of counselor Haas and his staff, was very profesional and the case was handled in a timely matter. I would strongly recommend his services Angel Guevara
★★★★★
I strongly recommend Jules Haas. I have worked with him for two years and he has provided so much support and followed through with everything he promised he would do. His support staff is just as helpful! We had an interesting case and he helped to solve each part of it legally and was very thorough. Thank you for everything you have done to finalize our families estate Robyn Stafford
★★★★★
Jules Haas helped me with managing the process in probate court for my father's estate through to its completion upon the sale of my father's house. He was knowledgeable, efficient, and effective in submitting documentation to the probate court, explaining procedures to me, and advising me as to the progress of my case. His support staff was also very helpful. He made what for me created so much anxiety into something manageable where I could see progress every step of the way. His fees were very reasonable. I am super grateful to him for all the help he has provided and strongly recommend his services. Diana Janer
★★★★★
I just completed an estate transaction where Jules Haas represented my client in an estate and he did a great job! He was very quick at responding to all matters throughout the sale process, he was detailed, he was knowledgeable and he was a pleasure to work with. I just recommended him to some new clients who are going through an estate matter and will continue to recommend him. Rodolfo Lucchese