Who has the right to notice and to participate in Surrogate's Court proceedings?

• A. Interested persons.
• B. The general public.
• C. Only the executor.
• D. Creditors.

Answer: (A)

Notice in Surrogate’s Court is provided to those with a potential stake in the estate—interested persons. The idea is to inform everyone who could be affected by how the estate is handled and to give them a chance to weigh in. Those people typically include heirs, beneficiaries named in a will, next of kin, and creditors who have a claim. Because they have a real interest in the outcome, they have the right to receive notice of petitions and hearings and to participate by presenting evidence, objecting, or requesting actions like accounting or adjustments. The general public doesn’t have automatic standing to notice or participate in these private proceedings, since the court’s decisions concern specific individuals with recognized interests. The concept centers on who may be affected and therefore must be notified and allowed to participate.