Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Administration
Last updated on October 23, 2025
Getting the help you need after a loved one passes away does not have to be difficult. Our White Plains and Westchester attorneys at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP, are here to help answer any questions you have about the estate administration process, including the following:
What is estate administration in New York?
Estate administration is the legal process of managing a person’s financial matters after they pass away. The process involves locating valuable assets, resolving their final debts, paying estate and personal taxes, identifying their beneficiaries and distributing any remaining property. An executor is typically responsible for overseeing an estate during the probate process.
How long does estate administration take in New York?
It can take months to administer even a small estate, and years to settle a high net worth estate or an estate that is disputed. The timeline can be heavily affected by the complexity and value of a given estate’s assets.
What are the duties of an executor during estate administration?
The role of the executor is to manage the estate after the testator passes away. The executor’s main duty is to distribute the testator’s estate to beneficiaries. Before that can happen, the executor may need to submit the will to probate court, locate beneficiaries and settle any unpaid debts and taxes. The executor must always act in the best interests of the estate and its beneficiaries during each stage of the process.
What happens if someone dies without a will in New York?
If someone dies intestate (without a will) in New York, their estate is handled in Surrogate’s Court through an administration proceeding, rather than regular probate. The court generally appoints an administrator from a statutory hierarchy of next of kin (beginning with a surviving spouse, then children, parents, siblings, and more distant relatives). The administrator collects assets, pays debts and taxes and distributes the remainder to the deceased’s heirs or “distributees” according to New York’s intestacy laws. If no relatives can be found or are willing to serve as administrator, the state will appoint a public administrator to do the job.
What documents are needed to begin estate administration in New York?
The main documents to begin the estate administration in New York are the deceased’s death certificate, a valid will, a petition for probate and an inventory of the estate.
Schedule Your Consultation With An Experienced Attorney Today
If you want to learn more about the estate administration process or still have questions, you can reach out to Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP, and speak to one of our estate administration lawyers. Call today at 914-269-2367 or contact us online by completing this form.
