About Petition for Letters of Administration (d.b.n.)
To petition the Surrogate's Court for letters of administration de bonis non (d.b.n.), which authorize an administrator to settle the remaining estate of a deceased person when the original administrator has died, resigned, or become unable to serve.
When you'd use it: When the original personal representative of an estate is no longer able to serve and a successor administrator must be appointed to complete estate administration.
Where to get the official form
Petition for Letters of Administration (d.b.n.) 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 (d.b.n.) in New York
- Step 1 — Confirm you have the correct formUse Petition for Letters of Administration (d.b.n.) (admdbn) when when the original personal representative of an estate is no longer able to serve and a successor administrator must be appointed to complete estate administration. 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 (d.b.n.) 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 (d.b.n.) 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).