When a person dies, a process recognized as "estate administration" must be carried out. This refers to all the processes which must be followed in distributing a person's estate to their heirs or devisees.

If the decedent wrote a will before his or her death in Farmingdale, New York, the process will be carried out according to the directives included in the will, assuming they are legitimate and enforceable.

Most often, a will names a person to serve as executor, whose job it is to guarantee that the estate is properly administered.

The executor is commonly the person who will get the most money or property out of the will if it is given effect, because this is the person who will have the greatest incentive to see that the probate process goes as rapidly as possible.

What if The Will Does Not Name an Executor?

If a will in Farmingdale, New York is silent as to who should be the executor, it is up to the court to determine who should serve in that capacity.

Normally, this will be the person who has the most to receive from the will, or who would gain the most under New York's intestacy scheme (the system that distributes the decedent's property to his or her closest living relatives, if he or she dies without a will).

When a will is silent as to who should be the executor, any individual who has some direct interest in the result can ask to be named executor by the Farmingdale, New York court.

Once an executor is assigned (whether by being named in the will, or on the application of another person), they "step into the shoes" of the estate, and are expected to safeguard its interests to the fullest extent possible. They further are obligated to accurately inventory the estate's debts and assets, as well as notify possible beneficiaries.

Can a Farmingdale, New York Estate Administration Attorney Help?

If you find yourself named in a will as executor of an estate, and aren't sure how to meet your responsibilities, or where to begin, it would be a good idea to consult with an accomplished Farmingdale, New York lawyer who can help you navigate this sometimes-complicated process.