About Petition for Letters of Administration c.t.a. (After Probate)
To petition the court for letters of administration c.t.a. (cum testamento annexo) following probate of a will when an executor named in the will is unable or unwilling to serve.
When you'd use it: When the named executor under a will cannot or will not act and the court seeks to appoint an administrator with the will annexed to manage the estate.
Where to get the official form
Petition for Letters of Administration c.t.a. (After Probate) is published through the New Yorkcourts' official forms page. Open it to find and download the current version directly from the court rather than a third-party copy:
Official court source
Open the official New York forms page →
Source: nycourts.gov
Link last checked: June 27, 2026
How to file Petition for Letters of Administration c.t.a. (After Probate) in New York
- Step 1 — Confirm you have the correct formUse Petition for Letters of Administration c.t.a. (After Probate) (probcta) when when the named executor under a will cannot or will not act and the court seeks to appoint an administrator with the will annexed to manage the estate. Double-check it's the right form for your situation — New York probate forms are revised periodically, so verify the name and number against your court's current form list before you start.
- Step 2 — Complete every required fieldFill out Petition for Letters of Administration c.t.a. (After Probate) carefully and review it for errors before filing. Probate cases can already take months — a small mistake on the form can set your timeline back further.
- Step 3 — Get it notarized or witnessed if requiredSome probate forms must be signed in front of a notary or witnesses. Check the instructions on the form itself, and arrange notarization before you file if it's required.
- Step 4 — File it with the correct courtSubmit Petition for Letters of Administration c.t.a. (After Probate) to the probate court or county clerk handling the estate — usually in the New York county where the deceased lived. Ask the clerk how they prefer to receive filings (in person, by mail, or e-filing).