New York Accounting Format (JA-7 & JA-4)

How Summafolio formats it

Accountings for New York are formatted to the structure of: New York Surrogate's Court accounting (Official Forms JA-4 / JA-7).

Principal and income accounts and Schedules A through K in the order and headings of the official Surrogate's Court accounting forms: JA-4 (trust accounting) for trusts, JA-7 (non-trust accounting) for estates.

Sources:

Official Surrogate's Court Forms JA-4 (trust) and JA-7 (non-trust) accounts
SCPA Article 22 (accounting)
SCPA §2307 (commissions)
EPTL Article 11-A (principal and income)
Principal and income: N.Y. EPTL Article 11-A

Notes:

Schedule H (interested parties) must include the search of court records for powers of attorney and assignments; we list the parties you enter.
Schedule K (estate taxes paid and allocation of estate taxes) is prepared from your entries; we don't compute estate tax.

The format: official forms JA-4 and JA-7

New York's Surrogate's Courts publish official accounting forms. The non-trust accounting forms are used by executors and administrators, and the account itself is JA-7. The trust accounting forms are used by trustees, and the account is JA-4. Each packet also contains the petition for judicial settlement (JA-1), a receipt and release (JA-2), and a waiver of citation and consent (JA-3).

Both accounts are organized as lettered schedules. JA-7, the estate account, runs:

Schedule	Contents
A	Principal received
A-1	Realized increases
A-2	Income collected
B	Realized decreases
C	Funeral and administration expenses and taxes
C-1	Unpaid administration expenses
D	Creditors' claims
E	Distributions made
F	New investments, exchanges and stock distributions
G	Personal property remaining on hand
H	Interested parties and proposed distribution
I	Computation of commissions
J	Other pertinent facts and cash reconciliation
K	Estate taxes paid and allocation of estate taxes

JA-4 keeps principal and income in separate tracks: Schedules A to G cover principal (Schedule D doesn't apply in a trustee's account), and A-2, C-2, E-1 and G-1 cover income collected, expenses charged to income, income distributions and income on hand. Schedules H to K follow.

Two ways to settle an account

Informally, by receipts and releases. If everyone entitled to be served signs an acknowledged instrument approving the account, the fiduciary can petition for a decree releasing and discharging them (SCPA §2203). The court's informal accounting checklist lists what the clerk looks for, including releases from every residuary beneficiary.
Judicially. A fiduciary may petition for judicial settlement in the cases in SCPA §2208, for an executor or administrator once the claims period has run or seven months after letters issued, and process goes to the persons listed in §2210. The court can also compel an account (§2205).

Commissions

Executors' and administrators' commissions under SCPA §2307 are 5% on the first $100,000 received and paid out, 4% on the next $200,000, 3% on the next $700,000, 2.5% on the next $4,000,000 and 2% above $5,000,000. Schedule I shows that computation, and Summafolio calculates it from the account.

Principal and income

New York's principal-and-income rules are in EPTL Article 11-A, cited as the New York uniform principal and income act (EPTL 11-A-1.1). New York has not adopted the newer Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act.

What Summafolio does and doesn't do

We produce the schedules in the JA-4 or JA-7 order and headings, with the cash reconciliation in Schedule J tied to every statement. You still prepare the petition, citation and decree, and Schedule H's list of interested parties comes from what you enter. We don't compute estate tax for Schedule K.

Frequently asked questions

Which form does an executor who also serves as trustee use?

The estate account (JA-7) for the estate, and the trust account (JA-4) for each testamentary trust once it is funded.

Is a judicial settlement always needed?

No. An estate can close on receipts and releases. A judicial settlement gives a decree binding everyone who was served, which matters when a beneficiary won't sign or is under a disability.

Samples and next steps

Sample: New York estate accounting23-page PDF and Excel workbook from a fictional matter.
Guide: New York Estate Accounting: JA-7 Schedules & SettlementPlain-English explanation with citations.
Free template: Estate accounting template (executor's account)Blank PDF and Excel. A template, not a court form.
PricingOne price per accounting, every export included.
How it worksFrom statements to a reconciled accounting.
All states and formatsCompare the 14 state formats and the uniform format.

Other states

No court has approved or endorsed Summafolio. Accountings are formatted to the structure of the sources cited above, and some courts require their own forms or local rules. This page is general information, not legal advice. Confirm the current requirements with the statute, your court and an attorney licensed in your state.

New York Surrogate's Court accounting format