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Archiver > NYC-ROOTS > 1998-04 > 0891455264


From: LeslieCorn <>
Subject: Re: probate--where to find rest?
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 13:27:44 EST


Hi Jill,

In a message dated 3/31/98 10:17:47 PM, wrote:

>My cousin found ref to an ancestor of ours in liber index at Chambers Street.
>She climbed ladders and located in large books the 1874 will together with
>1886 proving of said will. Simply states that there was a citation issued
>requiring heirs and next of kin to appear before surrogate then to attend
>probate of will. Proof does not appear to have been noteworthy, probate
>uncontested.
>
>Question: Where is the rest? This will involves properties and a
significant
>estate for that time period. We are hoping to locate details on actual
>dispursements, etc. Can we use liber number to access these in another area?
>Or should they be with will and proving of will?
>
>And finally, it is a small thing, but is the use of the word "allegations"
>unremarkable or does it suggest something more in the following context:
>
>"The citation herein having been duly issued served and returned, Etzekiel
>Fixman appearing for the petitioner and Theodore Dingeldein Esq appearing for
>Philip Dingeldein the brother of the deceased, the ALLEGATIONS [my caps] of
>the persons appearing having been heard and the statements having been duly
>taken by the surrogate and the probate of the said will not having been
>contested and it appearing to the surrogate that the will was duly executed
>and that the testator at the time of executing, etc..."
>
>Thanks for any guidance.
>

What you want is the probate file, which isn't in the libers that your cousin
hefted. Older Manhattan wills and related materials (pre-1964) are kept in
storage in Queens and need to be ordered in advance. They typically take 7-10
days to appear in Manhattan.

You order the probate by filling out a (of course!) form and including the
person's name, type of file (in this case, it would be probate), the date of
filing (which you probably already know), and the file number of the will (you
probably already know this too). You submit the form to Manhattan Surrogate's
Court at 31 Chambers St, 4 Fl, and return in 7-10 days to, hopefully,
photocopy good stuff.

There are other records besides probate, too, depending on the person's estate
and nature of the will-- inventories, guardianships, tax records, for
instance. But do get the probate first. It will be the key to the other
testamentary doors!

Best,

Leslie

Leslie Corn
NYC Research & Genealogy

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