A woman resident of Israel died. She was survived by her husband and three children. The middle child filed a petition for letters of estate administration. The middle child’s petition alleged that her mother was an heir of the estate of her uncle and that the Chase Bank, which was…
Articles Posted in Probate & Estate Litigation
Court Decides Status of Real Estate in Decedent’s Estate
The Facts: On 31 May 1988, a man (the testator) executed a last will and testament in which he devised and bequeathed a life estate interest in premises located at Hopkins Avenue, County of Kings, State of New York, (Hopkins Avenue property) to defendant, including the right for her to…
Court Rules on Status of Joint Will
The Facts: On 17 October 1967, a husband and a wife (“wife-one”) executed a joint will. On 27 September 1971, the wife died and the joint will, insofar as her estate was concerned, was admitted to probate in Kings County (for estate administration; estate litigation). At the time of her…
Court Determines Subject Matter Jurisdiction
The Facts: Sometime in 1936, plaintiff and his wife (the deceased), residents of Kings County, entered into an agreement to execute mutual reciprocal and irrevocable wills which neither of the parties was to alter, cancel or revoke without the written consent of the other. The wills were accordingly executed. In…
Trustee Brings Action to be Reimbursed for Expenses
The facts: A mother (hereinafter The Mother) lived with her son (hereinafter The Son). The son was devoted to his mother. A New York Probate Lawyer said she was unable to handle her own affairs, thus, he supervised her medical care. He managed her financial affairs and made sure that…
Petitioner Requests Preliminary Letters
A man died on October 28, 2006 leaving a will dated April 27, 2006. The man’s last will nominates an attorney and a friend as executors. He was survived by his two adult children. The man’s friend renounced his appointment. The will provides that the man’s entire residuary estate shall…
Court Decides Jurisdiction Issue
In an action to recover damages for medical malpractice and lack of informed consent, in which the accused Medical Center commenced a third-party action against the woman as successor executor of the estate of her husband. The woman appeals from an order of the Supreme Court which denied her motion…
Court Discusses Issuing Preliminary Letters Testementary
The Facts: On 14 December 2005, a decedent died leaving a will dated 13 September 2005 (the “2005 Will”) and a prior will dated 24 January 2003 (the “2003 Will”). The 2003 Will nominates the decedent’s daughter-one as executor and the decedent’s daughter-two as successor executor. The 2005 Will also…
Petitioner Requests a Contingent Executor
The Facts: On 13 October 2006, a decedent died without a spouse or children and leaving a will dated 5 September 1986. Under the will, in the event that one of the decedent’s brothers (“the brother”), who is the nominated executor, and the decedent’s nephew, the first named contingent executor,…
Court Decides Legal Fees for Estate Administration
The Facts: A decedent was survived by his wife, an adult son who is the petitioner herein, and four adult grandchildren. A New York Probate Lawyer said the decedent’s wife is a person under disability and her interests are being represented by a guardian ad litem appointed for that purpose…