New York Probate and Estate Administration Lawyer Blog
The petitioners of this probate case wanted to withdraw their petition and requested the court to issue letters of administration. The petitioners wanted to abandon their action placing on probate the alleged copy of the testament.
According to the last will and testament of the decedent, the remaining estate will go to her sisters. The decedent named one sister as the executor of the will while the other one was named as the successor. The said executor had predeceased the testator and no issue was raised. The whole estate was passed on to the successor of the will which was also the other successor.
The successor had filed a petition for a guardian to be appointed for her property. Since the court has found that the successor cannot to be relied on managing her own properties, a guardian was appointed. The petitioners of the case were the appointed guardians.
A New York Probate Lawyer said the guardians, also known as the petitioners, were granted by the court to place the will for probate. During that time, the original copy of the will and testament cannot be found. With this information, the petitioners filed for a probate on the copy of the original will. The original will was found later on among the important documents of the deceased. It was assumed that buyer of the house once owned by the deceased threw away the papers, thinking they had no value. One of the guardians confirmed this information in her statement that a former hand had taken possession of the house and discarded the papers in question.
The petitioners have now asked the court to abandon their initial probate petition and issue letters of administration instead. In their petition, the guardians have alleged that they cannot submit the will for probate since they lack a second subscribing witness.
Nassau County Probate Lawyers said that according to the provisions of the law, the court has to respect the wishes written by the testators in their last will and testament. The obligation of the court should be a public policy matter. Under normal circumstances, it is the obligation of the executor of the will to take the necessary steps in order to obtain probate. The nominated executor has to ward off any form of attack against the will. The law further states that if the nominated executor is disabled or dies, the person who is named as guardian may take the duty to petition the will for probate.
However, the court has taken note of exceptions to this rule in which there are instances in which petitioning for probate becomes futile. If the executor believes that the will being petitioned for probate is not the original one, the executor has no right to submit it for probate. Another exception to this obligation is when the will becomes ineffective. Brooklyn Probate Lawyers said the executor does not have the duty to submit the will for probate when the legacies indicated in the will have expired. The will becomes ineffective when the executor did not act on the will or has died.
The law also states that even if the last will and testament is valid, the same instrument does not have to be petitioned for probate if the proof is deemed to be doubtful. According to the law, the court can grant letters of administration in cases when the probate of the instrument is delayed. When all the parties interested in the estate will agree that the will should not be under probate, the court does not have the authority to order the admission of probate.
In this case, the exceptions to the rule are not presented. The nominated executor in this will is still alive. The petitioners filing for probate acted on her behalf as the guardians. Based on the provisions of the law and review of the petition, the court has decided to deny the petition to withdraw probate.
A lawyer will provide assistance in your petition for probate. Contact the offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates today.