New York Consolidated Laws, Surrogate's Court Procedure Act - SCP § 1601. Legislative declaration of purpose

It is the intent and purpose of this article that ancillary administration shall be granted in this state only when there is an actual administration in the domiciliary jurisdiction.  If the law of such jurisdiction does not provide for the appointment of a fiduciary but vests the property of a decedent in a person or persons subject to the obligation to pay the decedent's debts and expenses and the legacies bequeathed in his will or the distributive shares provided by law, such a person shall be recognized as the person acting therein to administer the decedent's estate in accordance with the law thereof, but only if such person has complied with all the requirements of such jurisdiction to entitle him to receive the property of the decedent and is acting or will act there to administer the estate.