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NYC Probate Court

Experienced With the NYC Probate Surrogate's Court

Probate of an estate is usually handled by a court located in the same county and state where the deceased was domiciled at the time of his or her death.  Every state has some court that has the jurisdiction to handle probate matters, but not every state calls this court the same thing. For example, in NYC, the probate court is known as the Surrogate’s Court, while in California the Probate Division of the Superior Court has the responsibility to deal with probate matters. A New York City probate lawyer can help handle these matters for you.

The domicile of a decedent is important in estate administration.  Domicile is the place where a person maintains his primary home.  A person can have many residences but only one domicile.  It is where a person typically files local taxes, votes and has a driver's license.  A person's state or country of domicile determines which  laws and rules control his estate and certain tax matters.  It is important to know a person's domicile since the laws of various jurisdictions may differ as to such items as intestate distribution and taxation.  Some states, such as New York, have an estate tax while others do not.

The Probate Court NYC or Surrogate's Court has the jurisdiction to handle matters relating to a decedent's estate.  Proceedings that are handled in the probate court NYC include probate proceedings where the person has a last will and Administration proceedings where a person dies intestate or without a last will.  Other proceedings handled in the probate court NYC include accounting proceedings where the Executor or Administrator provides a record of all financial transactions involved in a decedent's estate.  These proceedings can be amicable or can involve disputes and litigation. To handle their complexities, you should retain a probate lawyer in New York City.

There are many other types of proceedings that occur in the probate court relating to a decedent's estate settlement.  For example, if the language in a Last Will or Trust is unclear or ambiguous, there may be the need for a construction proceeding to determine the meaning of the document.  Also, if an estate executor or administrator believes that a third party is withholding assets that rightfully belong to the estate, the fiduciary can file a discovery or turnover proceeding to force the third party to deliver the assets to the estate.  The jurisdiction of the Surrogate's Court such as the Manhattan Surrogate's Court can be quite broad.  The Court is authorized to deal with many different matters that relate to a decedent.  For example, it may be necessary to determine whether a lifetime gift by a decedent was valid or the result of undue influence or fraud.  Also, the Court may need to determine the extent of the estate's interest in a business such as a partnership or small business corporation.  It is possible that the decedent's estate can be involved in a dispute concerning a partnership agreement or shareholder agreement.  In some cases questions may arise as to the validity or interpretation of a prenuptial or post-nuptial agreement or a divorce settlement. 

As a probate attorney in New York City, I have many years of experience working in the Probate Court NYC or Surrogate's Court and helping my clients with all types of proceedings.  I work closely with my clients and provide personal representation.

Do you need a lawyer or have any questions? Contact me by phone at (212) 355-2575 or by e-mail for an appointment with a New York City probate attorney.

New York Probate Lawyer Blog - New York Probate Court
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