Kings County Surrogate’s Court Judge candidate Meredith Jones announced this week her intention to mandate that the Office of the Kings County Public Administrator become compliant with all governing statutes, rules, regulations and audit recommendations.
When loved ones die without a last will and testament or without family who are able to administer their estate, the Public Administrator may be appointed by the Surrogate’s Court to administer their estate.
As the Surrogate Court has certain supervisory and oversight responsibilities over the Public Administrator’s Office, Jones said mandating compliance is the only way the public can be assured that estates under its control are properly administered and protected.
“In its 2013 audit the New York City Comptroller found that the Public Administrator in Brooklyn had failed to fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities by not acting in estates’ best interests, failed to carry out its duties prudently and failed to comply with statutory rules and regulations,” said Jones.
“In its latest audit in 2015, the Comptroller found that of the 18 recommendations made in its 2013 audit, 14 were not implemented — this is unacceptable. It is paramount Brooklyn have a Public Administrator who works for the people,” she added.
Among the problems the comptroller found with the Public Administrator’s Office in the latest audit were that disbursements did not have all the required supporting documentation; inventory records of estate assets were inaccurate; bank reconciliations were not always performed; and that the Office has not been vigilant in keeping track of estate monies once they have been deposited in its bank accounts and is unable to credit those funds back to the estates to which they belong.
“The issues with the Kings County Public Administrator’s Office are longstanding and the time for excuses is over,” Jones said. “If elected, I intend to have the Office immediately take action to come into compliance with all of the recommendations of the NYC Comptroller, including the recommendations regarding keeping proper records, and ensuring that only vetted persons have access to decedent’s property to prevent thefts.”
Meredith Jones attended Cornell University and graduated from Cornell Law School in 1996. In 2003, after practicing as a private attorney, she began a full-time position in public service, becoming the first black attorney to serve in the law department of the Kings County Surrogate’s Court.
In her current position as a Court Attorney- Referee, she conducts trials and hearings, performs research and drafts decisions for review by the Surrogate Judge. Jones also conducts settlement conferences, advises the Surrogate Judge on the law and makes recommendations regarding resolution of matters that come before the court.
The Surrogate’s Court hears cases involving the affairs of decedents, including the probate of wills and the administration of estates. It also handles adoptions.
Also running in the Surrogate Court Judicial race are Margarita Lopez-Torres and Elana Baron. The election is next Tuesday, June 25.
