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This person is is also known as a testator, if there's a will of course.
A party or creditor may file these after an accounting is filed.
What are Objections?
They'd be known as the executor, if there was a will.
What is the Administrator?
This person is usually needed in court when someone is under a legal disability (infancy, incapacity, incarcerated).
What is a Guardian?
It must be signed in the presence of two disinterested witnesses who also sign their names as witnesses to the will
What is the Will?
It's not a big deal, but these are the direct descendants of the decedent.
What is the Issue?
They may petition the court to compel an accounting if they question the executor’s/administrator’s actions.
What is any Interested Party?
Even if they're adopted or non-marital, they still stand to inherit.
What are Children?
This Article of the Mental Hygiene Law controls guardianships in Supreme Court.
What is Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law?
The person(s) named in the will to act as the fiduciary. They must be appointed by the Surrogate.
Who is the Executor?
This is a summary of the financial activities of the estate from the time the executor/administrator is appointed
What is an Accounting?
The accounting must contain all information related to the assets, debts, claims and distributions by this person.
The Executor/Administrator
It's the fancy way of saying died "without a will"
What is Intestate?
This Article of the SCPA controls guardianships of person/property of minors (persons under 18)
What is Article 17?
Because an executor is this, they must act in best interest of the estate
What is a Fiduciary?
This type of proceeding is necessary when someone dies without a will...Or without a valid will and there is property in their name that needs to be distributed...Or dies with a valid will that does not distribute all the property she owned.
What is Administration?
This professional's fees must be detailed on an account. The Surrogate’s court has the authority to reduce them if they're excessive.
What is an Attorney?
They might be called devisees, or even legatees, if there was a will.
What are distributees?
This Article of the SCPA controls guardianships of person/property of intellectually and developmentally disabled adults.
What is Article 17-A?
This person is entitled to a share of the probate assets, even if they're not in the will.
Who is the testator's spouse?
The executor or administrator must receive these from the court before beginning their work on settling the estate.
What are Letters?
It can order an accounting on its own initiative -- usually where there are unanswered questions about the actions and decisions of the executor/administrator
What is the Court?
This type of parent, child or sibling is not considered a distributee. (good thing the Brady Bunch opted for wills)
What is Step-?
This type of guardian will be appointed for the child during the proceeding, and the parents must pay for this.
What is a Guardian ad Litem?
They are two of the four objections to probate.
What are Due execution; Testamentary capacity; Undue influence; Fraud