A new pro bono effort from the New York State Bar Association aims to help the family members of people killed by COVID-19 settle their small uncontested estates, the bar association announced Wednesday.

Family members can ask for a volunteer attorney through the bar association's website, with the option to fill out a Google Forms describing the basic details of their situation.

Michael Miller, a trusts and estates attorney and past NYSBA president, is leading the initiative. He said the volunteer lawyers will help keep matters moving through Surrogate's Court without unnecessary delay, despite the surge in court cases as New York's coronavirus death toll approaches 25,000.

Traditionally, Miller said, family members have handled small estates pro se, but that process requires extra time and attention from court staff.

"We're not first responders but we lawyers are uniquely qualified to help our fellow grieving New Yorkers in their time of need," Miller said in a statement. "This program is in the finest tradition of pro bono publico. It's not just a good thing to do; it's the right thing to do."

NYSBA President Hank Greenberg thanked Chief Judge Janet DiFiore for asking the NYSBA to lead the program, which was described as a collaboration with the state's Unified Court System.

Attorneys interested in volunteering with the program will complete mandatory training, which qualifies for CLE credit, according to the NYSBA.

The small estates initiative comes nearly two months after the NYSBA announced the launch of a pro bono network to help New Yorkers with various coronavirus-related legal needs.

So far, the task force, led by former Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, has begun coordinating pro bono assistance for people denied unemployment benefits and formed a working group to try and settle disputes between landlords and tenants affected by the economic consequences of the coronavirus.

"The New York legal community has always risen to the task in times of crisis," DiFiore said in a statement about the launch of the small estates program. "I am grateful to Michael Miller and New York State Bar Association President Hank Greenberg for their leadership on this vital program and to our bar leaders and members throughout the state for their ongoing generosity in response to the immense legal needs of New Yorkers resulting from the pandemic."

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