The Surrogate's Court is the court in New York where all matters relating to Wills and Trusts are determined. The Surrogate is the title of the judge in this particular court, and each county in New York has at least one Surrogate (New York County, covering Manhattan, has two).
The Surrogate's Court handles, among other matters, the probate of Wills and appointment of Executors, the appointment of Administrators who serve in the role of Executors for the estates of people who die without a valid Will, and any disputes over the validity of a Will or the administration of a trust or a decedent's estate. The Surrogate's Court Clerk can provide an Executor with many forms necessary for an estate administration and can be a valuable source of information for a first time Executor. For information on Surrogate's Court procedures an Executor may contact the Surrogate's Court in the borough or county in which the deceased person last resided.
Bronx County:
Chief Clerk - Surrogate's Court 851 Grand Concourse Bronx, NY 10451 (718) 590-3625
Kings County (Brooklyn):
Chief Clerk - Surrogate's Court 2 Johnson Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 643-4336
New York County: (Manhattan)
Chief Clerk - Surrogate's Court 31 Chambers Street New York, NY 10007 (212) 374-8236
Queens County: Chief Clerk - Surrogate's Court 88-11 Sutphin Blvd. Jamaica, NY 11435 (718) 520-3132
Richmond County: (Staten Island):
Chief Clerk - Surrogate's Court County Court House St. George, NY 10301 (718) 390-5400
Nassau County:
Chief Clerk - Surrogate's Court Supreme Court Building Mineola, NY 11501 (516) 571-2082
Suffolk County:
Chief Clerk - Surrogate's Court 320 Center Drive Riverhead, NY 11901 (516) 852-1745
Westchester County:
Chief Clerk - Surrogate's Court 140 Grand Street White Plains, NY 10602 (914) 285-3725
Robert Adler, Esq. is an attorney who focuses his practice on wills, trusts and estates. He can be reached at 212-843-4059 or 646-946-8327.