New York has approved an amendment to SCPA 1301 which raises the limits for small estates from thirty thousand dollars to fifty thousand dollars. A small estate is a simplified proceeding in the Surrogate’s Court where it is possible to qualify as a Voluntary Administrator by downloading and filing a basic affidavit  of Voluntary Administration

This proceeding enables the administration of an estate without having to engage an attorney and by paying a filing fee of $1. This is truly the greatest bargain in New York’s judicial system. An administration should be filed by the person closest distributee  to the decedent. The requirements of the small estate program are laid out in NY Courts. Gov and will guide you through the steps you will need to take to qualify as an administrator or executor.