What It Is
Succession Law manages the court-supervised transfer of a person’s estate—probate when there is a will, administration when there is not—including the resolution of claims, taxes, and family rights. At Melleh Law, we guide executors, administrators, and beneficiaries through New York Surrogate’s Court and coordinate matters across other U.S. states and abroad. Our goal is to ensure that assets are identified, protected, and distributed promptly and lawfully.

A Practical, Court-Tested Approach

We blend clear explanations with precise legal procedure—filing petitions, issuing notices, managing creditors, preparing fiduciary accountings, and handling tax obligations. For international families, we manage ancillary probate, sworn translations, apostilles, and recognition of foreign documents, while aligning U.S. and non-U.S. inheritance rules such as domicile, situs, elective-share rights, and forced-heirship conflicts.

Who We Serve

• Executors, administrators, and trustees—whether first-time or experienced
• Surviving spouses, children, and other beneficiaries, including those living abroad
• Estates of non-U.S. residents with assets in the United States (e.g., New York real estate or U.S. accounts)
• Family businesses that require a smooth transition of ownership and management

What We Deliver

• Court authority: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, including guidance on bonds and qualification
• Administration plan & timeline: a clear roadmap of what to consolidate, sell, or retain, with key filing deadlines
• Asset management: estate EIN and bank account setup, notices to institutions, and valuation support
• Creditor & claim management: notice publication, claim review, negotiation, or litigation as required
• Accountings & distributions: informal or judicial accountings, receipts and releases, and final distributions
• Tax coordination: preparation of final Form 1040 and estate Form 1041; estate tax returns where applicable (e.g., Form 706 or 706-NA for nonresidents), basis reporting, and state-level filings
• Cross-border execution: sworn translations, apostilles, international distribution logistics, and cooperation with foreign counsel

Common Scenarios We Handle

• Probate of wills, including ancillary probate for foreign wills with U.S. assets
• Intestacy administration where no will exists; small-estate or voluntary administration when eligible
• Contested proceedings: will challenges, fiduciary removal, asset discovery, kinship hearings
• Family-business succession: transfer of shares or membership interests, buy-sell enforcement, officer/manager appointments, and obtaining third-party consents (landlords, lenders, vendors)
• Real-estate matters: sale approvals, clearing title defects, lien or estate-tax releases

Family Businesses

We coordinate estate administration with corporate governance to ensure that management continues seamlessly, contracts remain in force, and ownership transitions according to plan—without exposing personal or operating assets to unnecessary risk.

Our Process

1. Intake & authority — review will, death certificate, and family tree; file petition; obtain Letters of Authority.
2. Secure & marshal — safeguard property, notify institutions, obtain EIN, open estate account, and coordinate valuations.
3. Administer — manage creditors, taxes, and claims; oversee sales and protect estate value.
4. Account & distribute — prepare informal or judicial accountings, obtain releases or decrees, complete final distributions, and close the estate.

This summary is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Specific outcomes depend on your facts and the laws and court rules that apply to your matter.