N.Y. SCP Law § 1211

§ 1211. Letters not required; notice to be filed\n 1. Without the issuance of letters the public administrator in virtue\nof his office shall have all powers of a fiduciary of a decedent's\nestate whenever the gross assets of an estate do not exceed in value the\nmonetary amount defined as a small estate pursuant to section 1301 of\nthis act.\n 2. Upon commencing to act pursuant to this section the public\nadministrator shall file with the court a statement showing the name and\ndomicile of the decedent, the date and place of death and the names,\naddresses and relationship of any known distributees. The filing of such\nnotice shall have the same effect as the issuance of formal letters.\n 3. 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\nsection 1301 of this act the public administrator shall forthwith apply\nfor letters and file separate bond in the estate.\n 4. In the event the public administrator acting in any estate pursuant\nto subdivision 1 shall ascertain the names and whereabouts of persons\nbelieved to be distributees in the estate, then and in that event he\nshall forthwith file a supplemental statement pursuant to subdivision 2.\n