Waterford, NY asked in Estate Planning for New York

Q: My mother passed away. She lived in NY for almost 5 years before that in Maryland. Do I have to do public notices?

She had the contents of her apartment that have already been divided between all the siblings. Her will was written when she had property and is in a courthouse in Maryland. I will take a death certificate there to get the original, however I have a copy. It states that her estate should be divided between her children. She had two bank accounts (held jointly with me) and an annuity with beneficiaries. She has no other property. Do those bank accounts and annuity fall within "estate" and need to go through probate?

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1 Lawyer Answer
Michael David Siegel
Michael David Siegel
Answered
  • New York, NY
  • Licensed in New York

A: No. There is no need for the will or probate. The accounts go to you, and the annuity, on presentation of the death certificate, will go to the beneficiaries. If there is nothing else, you are done.

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