Hours
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday
Papers that require a fee must be submitted by 3:30 p.m.
Forms & Information
All forms, checklists, and information sheets available in the Administration / Small Estates Department are on this webpage.
Find the application you need below (a, b, c, d or e). Under each application there is one form that is *ALWAYS REQUIRED, and the rest are sometimes required.
See the checklists/information sheets for guidance and complete the necessary forms. Print the forms, have them signed and notarized (where indicated), and file the application in person, by mail, or by e-filing (NYSCEF Home).
a) Small Estates/Voluntary Administration
- When the value of decedent's estate is $50,000 or less.
- Whether decedent died with or without a Will.
- Excludes authority to sue for personal injuries or wrongful death, or to administer real property (house, land, condominium).
- New York County Checklist
The Small Estate Affidavit (Form SE-3A) *ALWAYS REQUIRED
Renunciation of Voluntary Administration
Schedule D(a) - Distributee Who Post-Deceased Decedent
Do-It-Yourself Small Estate Affidavit Program
(An alternative to filling out the forms. Your answers to the program's questions creates the completed forms)
b) Petition for Letters of Administration
- When the value of the decedent's estate is more than $50,000, and
- Decedent died without a Will.
- Includes authority to sue for personal injuries or wrongful death, and to administer real property (house, land, or condominium).
- Statewide Checklist
Petition for Letters of Administration (Form A-1, set of 10 forms) *ALWAYS REQUIRED
Affidavit of Assets and Liabilities
Schedule D(a) - Distributee Who Post-Deceased Decedent
Administration Citation, New York County
Decree Granting Letters of Administration
Decree Granting Limited Letters of Administration
Uniform Rules for Surrogates's Court § 207.16 (lineage, family tree, and due diligence guidelines)
Non-marital children of a male decedent (procedural guideline)
Instructions for Notice to Consul General
Instrucciones para Cónsul General
Checklist - Petition for Letters of Administration by Creditors/Litigants
c) Petition for Letters of Administration d.b.n.
- When the Administrator died and a successor is needed to continue administering decedent's estate.
- Statewide Checklist
Petition for Letters of Administration d.b.n. (Form ADM/DBN-1, set of 8 forms) *ALWAYS REQUIRED
Affidavit of Assets and Liabilities
Schedule D(a) - Distributee Who Post-Deceased Decedent
d) Petition for Ancillary Letters of Administration
- When there is an actual administration in decedent's domicile and property in New York County that needs to be administered, and
- Decedent died without a Will.
- New York County Checklist
Petition for Ancillary Letters of Administration (Form AA-1, set of 3 forms ) *ALWAYS REQUIRED
Waiver and Consent to Appointment of Ancillary Administrator
Decree Granting Ancillary Letters of Administration
NYS Tax Department - Instructions to Request a Waiver of Citation and Consent
Surrogate's Court Procedure Act § 1601; 1607 (Foreign estates)
e) Petition to Amend Letters of Administration
- To raise the collection limit or otherwise amend letters of administration previously issued.
Petition and Order to Amend Letters of Administration *ALWAYS REQUIRED
More Forms
Affidavit of Service of the Citation - Personal Delivery
Affidavit of Service of the Citation - by Mail
Affidavit of Mailing (papers other than the citation)
Notice of Settlement - with Uniform Rules for Surrogate's Court § 207.37
Substituted Service Order - NYS resident respondents
Staples Affidavit - Voluntary Administration
Amended Affidavit – Voluntary Administration
Report and Account – Voluntary Administration
Petitions filed with the Miscellaneous Department:
Petition to resign as administrator and appoint an administrator d.b.n.
Petition to revoke letters of administration and grant letters of administration d.b.n.
More Information
Court Fees - Administration proceedings
How to Serve the Citation - with affidavits of service
Uniform Rules for Surrogate's Court § 207.16 (lineage, family tree, and due diligence guidelines)
NYS Tax Department - Instructions to Request a Waiver of Citation and Consent
Estates, Powers and Trusts Law § 13-3.4. - Payment or delivery of property to foreign fiduciaries
Surrogate's Court Procedure Act § 206; 208 (Non-domiciliaries; jurisdiction and venue)
Administration Department Notes
Court staff can notarize your court documents if you come in person and show us government issued picture ID.
Small Estates/Voluntary Administration applications for sealed apartments can be processed the same day if filing is in person, complete, and submitted by 3 p.m.
The court does not review or accept e-filed petitions or small estate affidavits until an original death certificate, and original will if applicable, is received, except copies are sufficient with petitions by creditors/litigants.
To prompt the court to review and accept e-filings when an original death certificate or original will was previously filed or when the petitioner is a creditor or litigant, file a copy of the death certificate or will with an e-filing confirmation printout by mail or in person, and note on the printout that:
a) the original death certificate or original will was previously filed and note the corresponding file number, or
b) the petitioner is a creditor or litigant.
Once your petition or small estate affidavit is e-filed, supplemental documents to complete the file may be e-filed and no hard copy submission to the court is necessary.