Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
(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.