N.Y. Surr. Ct. Proc. Act § 1115

§ 1115. Letters not required for small estates\n 1. Without the issuance of letters the public administrator by virtue\nof his office shall have all the powers of a fiduciary of a decedent's\nestate whenever the gross assets of the estate do not exceed the\nmonetary amount defined as a small estate pursuant to subdivision 1 of\nsection 1301 of this act.\n 2. In the event the aggregate sum of the assets of an estate in which\nthe public administrator commences to act pursuant to subdivision 1\nshall exceed the monetary amount defined as a small estate pursuant to\nsubdivision 1 of section 1301 of this act the public administrator shall\nforthwith apply for letters.\n 3. The delivery by the public administrator to a debtor, transfer\nagent or person holding personal property of the decedent of a\ncertificate evidencing his authority to act under this section, his\nreceipt and the surrender of any evidentiary document shall constitute a\ncomplete release and discharge for any payment of money or delivery of\nproperty made pursuant to the certificate without such person being\nrequired to see to the application thereof and with the same effect as\nif made to any other fiduciary.\n