N.Y. Surrogate's Court Procedure Act § 1211: Letters not required; notice to be filed 1

§ 1211. Letters not required; notice to be filed

1. Without the issuance of letters the public administrator in virtue

of his office shall have all powers of a fiduciary of a decedent's

estate whenever the gross assets of an estate do not exceed in value the

monetary amount defined as a small estate pursuant to section 1301 of

this act.

2. Upon commencing to act pursuant to this section the public

administrator shall file with the court a statement showing the name and

domicile of the decedent, the date and place of death and the names,

addresses and relationship of any known distributees. The filing of such

notice shall have the same effect as the issuance of formal letters.

3. In the event the aggregate sum of the assets of an estate in which

the public administrator commences to act pursuant to subdivision 1

shall exceed the monetary amount defined as a small estate pursuant to

section 1301 of this act the public administrator shall forthwith apply

for letters and file separate bond in the estate.

4. In the event the public administrator acting in any estate pursuant

to subdivision 1 shall ascertain the names and whereabouts of persons

believed to be distributees in the estate, then and in that event he

shall forthwith file a supplemental statement pursuant to subdivision 2.