Tioga Surrogate's Court Tioga County Surrogate's Court Glossary

An abbreviation for "also known as".

Legal statement that is signed before a person authorized to take such as a Notary Public, Commissioner of Deeds, Attorney, or Clerk of the Court. This verifies the identify of the person signing the statement.

A written instrument authorized by the Social Services Law and Public Health Law whereby a person admits he is the biological father of a particular child. When properly executed and filed, the acknowledgment has the force and effect of an order of filiation.

Proceeding of an estate of a person who dies without leaving a will (intestate).

A person appointed by the Court to act as fiduciary to settle the estate of a person who died without a will.

(administrator with the will attached - cum testamento annexo) Person appointed to be an administrator where an executor fails to qualify or is unable or ceases to act by reason of death, disqualification, or renunciation or where no executor was named in the will.

(of goods not already administered - de bonis non) Any person to whom letters of administration have been issued as a successor to an administrator who has died or who has failed to complete the estate.

A legal proceeding under Article 6 of the Family Court Act and Article 7 of the Domestic Relations Act whereby a person takes another person into the relation of a child and thereby acquires the rights and incurs the responsibilities of a parent in respect to such other person.

A person who makes an affidavit.

A statement of facts which is made voluntarily and confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the person making it.

An affidavit intended to certify the service of a writ, notice, or other document.

An act of declaring something to be true under the penalty of perjury by a person who conscientiously declines to take an oath for religious or other pertinent reasons.

Any name for used for an official purpose that is different from a person's legal name.

Proceeding based upon an original probate or administration of an estate from a foreign country or another state leading to the ancillary probate of a will and/or appointment of a fiduciary in order to administer real or personal property within the State of New York.

A paper submitted by a party in which he/she responds to and/or denies the allegations of the other party.

The participation in the proceedings by a party summoned in an action, either in person or through an attorney.

A person to whom an assignment is made.

The act of witnessing an instrument in writing (Will) at the request of the person making the same, and subscribing it as a witness.

Paragraph appearing at the end of a Will after the signature of the person making the Will for the purpose of the attesting witnesses describing the signing or execution of the will.

Persons witnessing the actual signing of a (subscribing witness) Will at the request of the person making the Will or before whom the person making the Will shows his signature on the Will. At least two witnesses are required and they must sign below that of the person making the Will.

A person educated in the law, admitted to practice before the bar of a given jurisdiction an authorized to advise, represent, and act for other persons in legal proceedings.

A person authorized by another to act in his/her place, either for some particular purpose or for the transaction of business in general. This authority is conferred by a written document called a "power of attorney". A "power of attorney" is no longer valid after the death of the person who conferred the power.

Attorney whose name appears in the permanent records or files of a case.

A reproduction of an original writing that has been certified or verified by a proper officer.

See "exemplification."