What Do I Do If I Received a New York Notice of Probate?

If you received a Notice of Probate, that means that you have some interest in the estate. You might be an heir, a creditor, or someone else with an interest in the estate.

Probate is a legal process that begins with a petition to the Surrogate’s Court. The probate process is all about determining who the heirs of the testator are, paying creditors, and distributing assets to beneficiaries.

When an executor offers a will for probate in New York City’s Surrogate’s Court, he will get signed waivers from the beneficiaries of the will which states that they do not object to the will. An executor is next required to give a citation or a notice of probate to all heirs and beneficiaries under the will who have not appeared or waived service of process.

The point of the notice of probate is to alert interested parties that a will has been offered to probate and give those interested parties a chance to object to the probate of the will.

The probate process can be more challenging that one might think. An experienced estate attorney is familiar with the specific terminology found in probate documentation. In addition, a seasoned estate attorney is aware of the time limitations imposed in New York for filing the required documentation. If you need representation in a probate or estate administration proceeding, call the Law Offices of Albert Goodwin at (212) 233-1233.