In Queens County, both the Surrogate’s Court and Supreme Court hold jurisdiction over various legal matters. However, it is important to understand the differences in what each court handles, particularly when it comes to cases involving the decedent’s estate or trust disputes.
While the Surrogate’s Court in Queens has concurrent jurisdiction with the Supreme Court over many issues involving estates and trusts, there are certain causes of action—particularly individual claims between parties – that fall outside the scope of Surrogate’s Court. Pursuing these types of claims in Surrogate’s Court can lead to delays and unnecessary complications. In most cases, such actions are better addressed in the Queens Supreme Court.
In this blog, we’ll explain the key distinctions between the two courts, the limitations of Surrogate’s Court jurisdiction, and why filing the right type of claim in the appropriate court can save you significant time and lead to a quicker resolution of your case.
Concurrent Jurisdiction: What It Means for Queens County
Concurrent jurisdiction means that both the Queens Surrogate’s Court and Queens Supreme Court have the authority to hear certain types of cases. However, this does not mean they handle all matters equally. Surrogate’s Court has a specific focus on matters related to decedents’ estates, wills, trusts, and issues arising from the administration of those estates. Supreme Court, on the other hand, is a court of general jurisdiction, able to handle a wide array of civil and criminal disputes.
In essence, while both courts can handle certain estate-related disputes, Surrogate’s Court is the preferred venue for matters that directly pertain to the decedent’s estate, and Supreme Court is the proper venue for cases that involve personal claims between individuals or issues that fall outside the narrow confines of estate and trust law.
What the Surrogate’s Court Handles
The Queens Surrogate’s Court has the authority to hear cases involving:
1. Probate of Wills:
Surrogate’s Court oversees the probate process, ensuring that a decedent’s will is valid and that the estate is administered according to the terms of the will.
2. Administration of Estates:
When someone dies without a will, Surrogate’s Court appoints an administrator to manage the decedent’s estate and distribute assets in accordance with New York’s intestacy laws.
3. Trust Administration Disputes:
Surrogate’s Court also handles disputes involving the management or administration of trusts. Trustees may be called to account for their actions, and beneficiaries may bring claims if they believe the trustee has mismanaged the trust assets.
4. Turnover Proceedings:
If someone is withholding property that belongs to the estate, Surrogate’s Court can compel that person to return the property through a turnover proceeding.
5. Accounting Proceedings:
Executors, administrators, and trustees must provide a detailed accounting of their administration. Surrogate’s Court reviews these accountings to ensure that all estate assets were managed properly.
6. Construction and Interpretation of Wills and Trusts:
Disputes regarding the interpretation of ambiguous language in a will or trust often fall under the jurisdiction of Surrogate’s Court.
Limitations of Surrogate’s Court Jurisdiction
While Surrogate’s Court can handle disputes related to the administration of an estate or trust, it is not the appropriate venue for personal claims or disputes that exist between individuals unrelated to the estate. Here are some common examples of cases that do not belong in Surrogate’s Court:
1. Individual Personal Claims:
If one party has a personal cause of action against another party that is not directly related to the decedent’s estate—such as a dispute over personal contracts, tort claims, or non-estate-related financial matters—these claims fall outside the jurisdiction of Surrogate’s Court and belong in Supreme Court.
2. Claims Between Beneficiaries:
While Surrogate’s Court can resolve disputes involving the distribution of the estate, personal disputes between beneficiaries over matters unrelated to the estate should be handled in Supreme Court.
3. Tort Actions or Fraud Claims:
If a party wishes to bring a claim for fraud, breach of contract, or personal injury against another individual, these are typically handled in Supreme Court. Even if these claims involve parties related to the decedent’s estate, they are independent causes of action and are better suited for the broader jurisdiction of Supreme Court.
4. Creditor Claims Unrelated to the Estate:
While Surrogate’s Court can adjudicate claims made by creditors against the estate, disputes between creditors and other parties, or between creditors and executors/administrators on matters outside the estate, often require Supreme Court intervention.
Why Pursuing Non-Estate Actions in Surrogate’s Court Can Lead to Delays
Attempting to litigate personal or non-estate-related claims in Surrogate’s Court can result in significant delays in the resolution of both your case and the administration of the estate. Here’s why:
1. Lack of Jurisdiction:
Surrogate’s Court is specifically focused on estate-related issues. When a claim does not fall within the court’s narrow jurisdiction, the court will likely dismiss or transfer the case. This can lead to unnecessary time wasted pursuing a claim in the wrong court, only to be redirected to the Supreme Court later.
2. Complications for the Estate:
If parties attempt to resolve personal disputes in Surrogate’s Court, it can delay the resolution of the estate itself. The court’s attention will be diverted from estate matters to address unrelated issues, slowing down the probate or trust administration process.
3. Prolonged Estate Administration:
Executors and trustees already have the difficult task of managing an estate or trust. When additional claims unrelated to the estate are brought into Surrogate’s Court, it can significantly prolong the administration process, causing delays in asset distribution to beneficiaries.
4. Supreme Court Is Better Equipped for Complex Litigation:
Supreme Court is a court of general jurisdiction and is better equipped to handle the procedural and substantive complexity of personal claims. It has the authority to address tort claims, contract disputes, and other personal matters with a broader scope and faster resolution.
Supreme Court: The Better Venue for Individual Disputes
If you have a cause of action that does not relate directly to the decedent’s estate or a trust, the Queens Supreme Court is the appropriate venue. Supreme Court is better suited for handling:
- Tort actions (such as fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, or negligence)
- Contract disputes (such as disagreements over agreements entered into with the decedent before death)
- Disputes between individuals (including beneficiaries, trustees, or others not directly related to the estate administration)
Pursuing these claims in Supreme Court will ensure that your case is heard by a court with the appropriate authority to address these matters and will lead to a faster resolution than if you try to push such issues into Surrogate’s Court.
Choosing the Right Court for Your Case is the Beginning of Your Matter’s Success
For executors, trustees, beneficiaries, and other parties involved in estate administration in Queens, it is crucial to understand the jurisdictional boundaries between Surrogate’s Court and Supreme Court. While Surrogate’s Court is the appropriate venue for estate-related disputes, attempting to litigate personal or unrelated claims in this court will likely lead to delays and unnecessary complications.
If you are involved in a personal dispute or have a cause of action unrelated to the decedent’s estate, pursuing your case in Queens Supreme Court is the best course of action. Doing so will help ensure that your legal matter is resolved efficiently, without causing unnecessary delays to the administration of the estate.
Call us for guidance on where to file your claim or how to handle estate-related disputes, and we will help you navigate the complexities of both Surrogate’s and Supreme Court.
