When the person who died (the Decedent) had a Will then the Will must be filed in Surrogate's Court and admitted (approved) for probate. The person who died is called the Decedent.That person's property is called the estate. Do you know how to find out if you are a beneficiary on a bank account? You can order a copy of a death certificate for someone who died in New York City in or after 1949. Get the resources you need to help navigate someone else's financial affairs. If you've been named the executor of an estate, it's important to make sure you understand the probate process in New York. This booklet provides information about what to do when someone dies and there is an estate to administer. One of the greatest advantages of becoming an executor or estate administrator is managing and having control of the estate bank account. This booklet explains many of these laws you need to know and provides resources where you can find more information about landlord and tenant issues.