{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "scpa", "section": "720", "citation": "SCPA § 720", "heading": "Effect and contents of decree suspending, modifying or revoking letters or removing a lifetime trustee or suspending or modifying his pow...", "text": ["§ 720. Effect and contents of decree suspending, modifying or revoking", "letters or removing a lifetime trustee or suspending or", "modifying his powers", "Upon the entry of a decree made as prescribed in this act, removing a fiduciary or suspending, modifying or revoking his letters issued to a fiduciary, his powers are suspended, modified or cease, as the case may be.  The decree may require him to account for all money and other property received by him and to pay over and deliver all money and other property in his hands, to the court or to his successor or to such other person as is authorized by law to receive it, or it may be made without prejudice to an action or special proceeding for that purpose then pending or thereafter to be brought.  The removal suspension, modification or revocation does not affect the validity of any act within the powers of the fiduciary done by him before his removal or the suspension, modification or revocation of his letters or the service of process, where the other party acted in good faith, or done after the service of process and before entry of the decree where his powers with respect thereto were not suspended or modified by service of process or where the court in a case prescribed by law, permitted him to do the same, notwithstanding the pendency of the special proceeding against him and he is not liable for such an act done by him in good faith.", "Where an executor or administrator is also a testamentary trustee of the same estate, a decree revoking his letters as executor or administrator does not affect his power or authority as testamentary trustee, except in the case specially prescribed for that purpose in 1505."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/SCP/720", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "Once the court enters a decree removing a fiduciary or suspending, modifying, or revoking letters, the fiduciary's **powers are suspended, modified, or cease** accordingly. ★\n- **Turnover**: the decree may require the fiduciary to **account for and deliver all money and property** to the court, a successor, or another lawful recipient, or may be made **without prejudice** to a pending or future action or proceeding for that purpose.\n- **Prior acts stay valid**: the decree does not affect an act within the fiduciary's powers done **before removal, suspension, modification, revocation, or service of process** where the **other party acted in good faith**; or done **after service of process but before entry of the decree** where service did not suspend or modify those powers or the court permitted the act. The fiduciary is **not liable** for such an act done **in good faith**.\n- **Trustee role survives**: revoking an executor's or administrator's letters does **not affect his authority as testamentary trustee** of the same estate, except as provided in **§ 1505**. ★", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/scpa/720", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}