Decision and Orders signed: March 12 & 13, 2024 Surrogate Gingold
ESTATE OF AMAR LAL PUROHIT, Deceased (23-3392) — On July 10, 2023, Chandra P. Abichandani (hereinafter, “petitioner”) filed a petition to have herself appointed as the administration of the estate of her deceased spouse, Amar Lai Purohit (hereinafter, “decedent”). On November 6, 2023, by attorney affirmation, petitioner amended her petition by reducing the value in paragraph 3(a), the estimated gross value of the decedent’s personal property passing by intestacy, from $2,000,000 to $28,000. On November 16, 2023, verified objections to the issuance of letters of administration to petitioner were filed by the decedent’s daughters, Rachana Purohit Crowley. Sandhya Purohit Caton, and Vandana Purohit Basu (hereinafter, “daughters”), in which they request that petitioner’s letters require her to post a bond in the amount of $975,000 to protect their intestate interests in a $2,000,000 estate. Due to administrative delays in the court, the daughter’s objections were not processed until after December 1, 2023, the date a decree granting letters of administration to petitioner, to serve without bond, was signed. On December 7, 2023, before letters of administration actually issued to petitioner, the daughters moved by order to show cause to vacate the December 1, 2023, decree seeking an order requiring petitioner to post a $975,000 bond to serve as administrator. Petitioner filed opposition to the order to show cause on January 17, 2024. After a review of the papers and after having heard oral argument on March 5, 2024, petitioner has not adequately supported the reasons for the reduction in the value of the U.S. estate passing through intestacy from an estimated $2,000,000 to $28,000. To date, letters of administration have not issued to petitioner. Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that, the decree dated December 1, 2023, granting letters of administration to Chandra P. Abichandani to serve without bond is vacated; and it is further ORDERED that, Chandra P. Abichandani settle on each, Rachana Purohit Crowley. Sandhya Purohit Caton, and Vandana Purohit Basu, a proposed decree granting letters of administration requiring the filing of a bond in the amount of $975,000 before letters issue. The Clerk of the Court is directed to email this decision and order of the court to counsel at the addresses at the foot hereof. Dated: March 12, 2024
