New York Probate and Estate Administration Lawyer Blog

Published on: March 31, 2019

Court Decides Case Involving Promissory Estoppel

NY Slip Op 05266

The petitioner brought this case to enforce an oral agreement that would be void because of the statute of frauds. The petitioner’s grounds for this action are unconscionability of the statute of frauds. The court agrees that when promissory estoppel is satisfied it would be unconscionable and egregious to rely on the statute of frauds. Nonetheless, the court concludes that the petitioner can’t rely on this doctrine because the application of the statute of frauds would inflict injury on the petitioner and would be unfair. The court felt that while it would be unfair, it was not unconscionable.

The decedent owned an apartment building. His grandsons contend that before 2006, the had helped their grandfather with maintenance and snow removal on the property. Later, the grandfather asked the petitioners about taking over management duties of the property.

Published on: November 28, 2018

Petitioner Seeks Guardianship of Disabled Sister

by Stephen Bilkis

Matter of A.F.

2018 NY Slip Op 05590

August 2018

Published on: November 4, 2018

Surrogate Court Decides Will Construction Case

by Stephen Bilkis

New York Surrogate Court, New York

In re: Application of Co-Executor B.D. for the determination of the Validity of the Will of AR

July 23, 2018

Published on: September 13, 2018

Court Discusses Jurisdiction of Distributees and the Doctrine of Laches in Probate Matter

by Stephen Bilkis

Matter of S.

2017 Slip Op 97446

Decision and Order

Published on: August 25, 2018

Appellant’s Claim Barred Due to Res Judicata, Collateral Estoppel

by Stephen Bilkis

Matter of A.

NY Slip Op 05842

The co-executor of the estate petitioned the court pursuant to 2103 to determine if certain funds were withheld from the estate of A. This appeal is from 2 Surrogate Court orders brought by A.S. Those orders denied AS her cross-motion pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(5) to dismiss the petition regarding two bank accounts. This appeal is dismissed. The second order superseded the first. One bill of costs is awarded to petitioner, payable to A.S.

Published on: June 8, 2018

Petitioner Moves for Summary Judgment in Will Construction Case

by Stephen Bilkis

In re the Probate Matter of WB

2017 NY Slip Op 50193

February 9, 2017

Published on: May 12, 2018

Court Rejects Extrinsic Evidence in Will Construction Case

by Stephen Bilkis

Matter of B.

2018 NY Slip Op 03921

May 31, 2018

Published on: May 6, 2018

The Estate of CF v The City of New York

by Stephen Bilkis

The respondent MJP holdings moves for an order dismissing the petition for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, and because a prior action is pending for the same issue in a different court.

Despite the fact that the proceeding was heard on 6/1/18, the history of this case goes back 40 years, starting with the death of the decedent’s grandmother CP. That litigation was only settled in 2017. Her 2 children have passed away. The estate of one child, J, is in litigation. The case with the other child, M, is being litigated as well.

The parties involved here are the petitioner, who is the executor of the decedent’s estate, the grandchild of the decedent, and daughter’s husband, and MJD Holdings.

Published on: May 2, 2018

Will Contenst Ends in Summary Judgment

by Stephen Bilkis

Matter of S.

2017 NY Slip Op. 07446

October 25, 2017

Published on: April 17, 2018

Matter of M.N.

by Stephen Bilkis

NY Slip Op 02473

Decision

This hearing was made pursuant to Mental Hygiene Law Article 81. The purpose was to appoint guardians to a person and property for Mr. & Mrs. D, who appealed a previous decision whereby the Petitioners had successfully requested to set aside a deed from July 19, 2013 because of undue influence and incompetence, and to declare the judgment void.