N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 22 § 36.4

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 51, December 18, 2024

Section 36.4 - Procedure after appointment

(a) Upon appointment of a fiduciary pursuant to this Part, the Court shall forward a copy of the appointment order to the designated fiduciary clerk within two (2) business days.

(b) Notice of appointment and certification of compliance.

(1) Every person appointed pursuant to this Part shall file with the fiduciary clerk of the court from which the appointment is made, within 30 days of the making of the appointment:

(i) a notice of appointment; and

(ii) a certification of compliance with this Part, on such form as promulgated by the Chief Administrator. Copies of this form shall be made available at the office of the fiduciary clerk and shall be transmitted by that clerk to the appointee immediately after the making of the appointment by the appointing judge. An appointee who accepts an appointment without compensation need not complete the certification of compliance portion of the form.

(2) The notice of appointment shall contain the date of the appointment and the nature of the appointment.

(3) The certification of compliance shall include:

(i) a statement that the appointment is in compliance with section 36.2(c) and (d) of this Part; and

(ii) a list of all appointments received, or for which compensation has been awarded, during the current calendar year and the year immediately preceding the current calendar year, which shall contain:

(a) the name of the judge who made each appointment;

(b) the compensation awarded; and

(c) where compensation remains to be awarded (i) the compensation anticipated to be awarded; and (ii) separate identification of those appointments for which compensation of $15,000 or more is anticipated to be awarded during any calendar year. The list shall include the appointment for which the filing is made.

(4) A person who is required to complete the certification of compliance, but who is unable to certify that the appointment is in compliance with this Part, shall immediately so inform the appointing judge.

(c) Approval of compensation.

(1) Upon the approval of compensation of more than $500, the court shall file with the fiduciary clerk (i) on such form as is promulgated by the Chief Administrator, a statement of approval of compensation, which shall contain a confirmation to be signed by the fiduciary clerk that the appointee has filed the notice of appointment and certification of compliance; and (ii) a copy of the proposed order approving compensation.

(2) The court shall not sign an order awarding compensation exceeding $500 until such time as the fiduciary clerk has confirmed that the appointee has properly filed the notice of appointment and certification of compliance. No compensation shall be awarded to an appointee who has not properly filed the notice of appointment and certification of compliance.

(3) Each approval of compensation of $5,000 or more to appointees pursuant to this section shall be accompanied by a statement, in writing, of the reasons therefor by the judge. The judge shall file a copy of the order approving compensation and the statement with the fiduciary clerk at the time of the signing of the order.

(4) Compensation to appointees shall not exceed the fair value of services rendered. Appointees who serve as counsel to a guardian or receiver shall not be compensated as counsel for services that should have been performed by the guardian or receiver.

(5) Unless otherwise directed by the court, a fiduciary appointee may utilize supporting attorneys and staff in their firm without additional Court approval. Support attorneys and staff may perform tasks only under the fiduciary appointee's direct supervision; all appearances and reports must be made by the fiduciary appointee; and all compensation earned by support attorneys or personnel shall be charged to the appointee for purposes of compensation limits pursuant to this Part.

(d) Reporting of compensation received by law firms. A law firm whose members, associates and employees have had a total of $50,000 or more in compensation approved in a single calendar year for appointments made pursuant to this Part shall report such amounts on a form promulgated by the Chief Administrator.

(e) Reporting of compensation received by a referee to sell real property.

(1) A referee to sell real property shall make a letter application to the court to authorize payment over $1,100 for a ''good cause'' adjournment or if there is a rebid or resale.

(2) Upon approval of compensation exceeding $1,100 to a referee to sell real property, the Court shall file a copy of its compensation order with the appropriate fiduciary clerk, who shall generate the required Unified Court System forms and monitor compliance and filing with the Part 36 processing unit. Payment of such compensation may not be made until the plaintiffs in the matter have received a copy of the court's compensation order.

(3) Exception. The procedure set forth in section 36.4(b)(1) shall not apply to the appointment of a referee to sell real property and a referee to compute whose compensation for such appointments is not anticipated to exceed $1,100.

(f) Approval and reporting of compensation received by counsel to the public administrator.

(1) A judge shall not approve compensation to counsel to the public administrator in excess of the fee schedule promulgated by the administrative board of the public administrator under SCPA 1128 unless accompanied by the judge's statement, in writing, of the reasons therefor, and by the appointee's affidavit of legal services under SCPA 1108 setting forth in detail the services rendered, the time spent, and the method or basis by which the requested compensation was determined.

(2) Any approval of compensation in excess of the fee schedule promulgated by the administrative board of the public administrator shall be reported to the Office of Court Administration on a form promulgated by the Chief Administrator and shall be accompanied by a copy of the order approving compensation, the judge's written statement, and the counsel's affidavit of legal services, which records shall be published as determined by the Chief Administrator.

(3) Each approval of compensation of $5,000 or more to counsel shall be reported to the Office of Court Administration on a form promulgated by the Chief Administrator and shall be published as determined by the Chief Administrator.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 22 § 36.4

Amended New York State Register April 19, 2017/Volume XXXIX, Issue 16, eff.4/19/2017

Amended New York State Register November 14, 2018/Volume XL, Issue 46, eff. 11/14/2018

Amended New York State Register April 24, 2019/Volume XLI, Issue 17, eff. 4/24/2019