There is no requirement that you hire an attorney to take care of a probate proceeding on your behalf. If you feel comfortable doing so, you may handle a simple probate yourself.
Probate involves several steps: Filing the probate petition. Give Notice. Inventorying the property. Paying outstanding debts and taxes. Distributing the remaining property as the will or state intestacy law directs.
Filing for a Small Estate If there is a Will, the Executor files the original Will and a certified death certificate with the small estate affidavit petition and other supporting documents in the Surrogate's Court in the county where the Decedent had their primary residence.
How to Submit a Claim A copy of the death certificate. Proof of Address or Ownership connecting the owner to the address or funds. Letters of Authority (Testamentary/Administration) issued by the court certifying your appointment, dated within the last six months, or a Small Estates Affidavit and Table of Heirs.
Under New York law, home sellers are required to deliver a Property Condition Disclosure Statement to the buyers – or allow a $500 credit at closing. Both buyers and sellers need an attorney's help in determining how to respond to this law.
Generally, the probate process in New York takes about 9-18 months to complete.
So, how much does an estate have to be worth to go to probate in NY? The answer isn't as straightforward as you might think. While the threshold for probate in NY is $50,000, in reality, the probate process is influenced by many things, and the estate's total value is just one of them.
The answer varies widely, largely because every estate takes a certain amount of time to go through the probate process. Depending on the type of estate, New York probate takes anywhere from a few months to three years, with an average time of 15 months.
New York probate is not always easy, but this guide will break down the process and answer commonly asked questions about probate in New York.