Which document might a clerk prepare for approval after a settlement?

• A. A witness subpoena.
• B. A proposed order.
• C. A jury verdict.
• D. An execution order.

Answer: (B)

After a settlement in Surrogate’s Court proceedings, the key step is to formalize the agreement so it has legal effect. The document the clerk drafts for the judge to sign is a proposed order. It spell outs the terms of the settlement, directs any distributions or other actions, and, once approved and entered, becomes the court’s formal order reflecting the settlement. This is exactly what enables the settlement to be enforced and carried out.

A witness subpoena is used to compel testimony, not to memorialize a settlement. A jury verdict results from a trial, not from settlement. An execution order relates to enforcing a judgment or carrying out its provisions, which isn’t the step taken to approve a settlement itself.