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When an individual dies intestate—without a valid will—and leaves no surviving spouse or descendants, the distribution of the estate does not occur automatically. In such cases, the Surrogate’s Court must determine the decedent’s lawful distributees pursuant to New York’s intestacy statute, EPTL § 4-1.1. Where immediate family members are absent, the court initiates what is commonly referred to as a kinship proceeding. A kinship proceeding is a formal evidentiary process thro

Inheritance law presumes that beneficiaries take property by virtue of relationship or designation. But New York has long recognized a foundational limitation: no individual may profit from his or her own wrongdoing. When a beneficiary intentionally causes the death of the decedent, that individual is barred from inheriting—by will, by intestacy, or through non-probate transfers. Although New York does not codify a statute titled the “Slayer Statute,” the rule is firmly embed

A Green Burial: An Eco-Friendly End-of-Life Choice The earliest human burials date back to the Stone Age, when the remains of the deceased were buried directly into the earth. Green burials, which have grown in prominence since the 1990s, take inspiration from these earliest human practices. Green burials have gained popularity due to their rustic simplicity, especially when compared to traditional funerals. Simple shrouds or biodegradable caskets are used in lieu of metal