Received Citation To Show Cause Across Country

Location: New York/Nassau Surrogate Court

My mother's uncle died in NY, then a year later my mother died in Oregon, where I live, and I handled her simple estate, which has not come up yet in any of the proceedings re: post-decedent fiduciary, etc.

Uncle Bob's estate is contested between different sets of heirs.

Side A requested a Waiver of Citation, Renunciation, and Consent to Appoint, which I provided. As did my brother and several other cousins.

Side B has issued me a citation to show cause before the Surrogate's Court. It is across the country, and it is in 18 days, when I cannot appear. So far as court records online show, no one has given him any waivers.

As much as I do not care to be involved with this, Side B is notorious within the family for being a thief. It is thought he absconded with much of the deceased property immediately after his death. He stole from a dead cousin, and my grandparents.

My mother was still alive, was on Medicaid, he said he could just pay an inheritance out to himself and then give it to her under the table. His lawyer in this matter suggested that I bring the pen to the hand of my mother, who I had guardianship of, and who had lost all of her mental capacities and have her scribble on the waiver.

I told him all of the above as reasons that I would not sign a waiver on her behalf as guardian, or on my own behalf after her death.

Is it reasonable to send a letter to the court, notarized, in lieu of appearance? If so, may it simply state that I have been notified and I do not consent. Should I be more descriptive and lay out my reasoning as above? Does it require that I hire an attorney in New York to handle appearance instead?

Thank you.