{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "scpa", "section": "2504", "citation": "SCPA § 2504", "heading": "Wills to be retained after probate; exceptions 1", "text": ["§ 2504. Wills to be retained after probate; exceptions", "1. A written will which has been admitted to probate must remain in the court, except where the will is on file in a court or public office of another state or country under the laws of which it cannot be removed.", "2. When it appears that the laws of another jurisdiction require the production of an original will before the provisions thereof become effective in such jurisdiction the court may cause any original will on file in its office to be sent to any court which, or to any officer of such jurisdiction who, under the laws thereof, is empowered to receive the will for probate, or may deliver the will to any person interested in the probate thereof in such jurisdiction or to his fiduciary in such manner and upon such terms as it deems proper for the preservation of the will and the protection of other parties interested in the estate.", "3. In the case of a joint will which has been admitted to probate in this state the court of such county may under such terms as it deems proper transmit the original joint will to the surrogate's court of any other county in this state for probate as the will of any other signer thereof. It shall be the duty of the court of such other county to keep a true copy thereof in its office and thereafter to return the original will to the surrogate's court of the county of original probate."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/SCP/2504", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "What happens to a will **after probate**.\n- **(1)** A probated written will **stays in the court**, unless it is on file in another state or country whose law forbids removing it. ★\n- **(2)** If another jurisdiction requires the **original** before the will takes effect there, the court may send it to the court or officer empowered to receive it, or to an interested person or their fiduciary, on terms that **protect the will** and the other parties.\n- **(3)** A **joint will** probated in one county may be sent to another New York county's Surrogate's Court to be probated as the will of **another signer**. That court keeps a **true copy** and **returns the original** to the first county.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/scpa/2504", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}