Office of the Surrogate 1787 - 1823


1787 - Established office of surrogate in each county with jurisdiction to issue probate, grant letters testamentary, letters administration with will annexed, to record wills proved before him, to issue decrees to settle payments, to hear and determine all cases touching legacy or bequest, to pay out and compel the payment of personal estates of the testor, to enforce decrees and require the executor or administrator to exhibit the inventory

1799 - Additionally had power to hear cases of persons dying out of state with land in county or living within the county with no land

1823 - Surrogate's office had the same power as Court of Probate;
Appeals to Court of Probate


Surrogate Court 1823 - Present


1823 - 1846
Jurisdiction in each county over administration, probate, guardianship and adoption;
Located in Albany, Columbia, Cumberland, Dutchess, Montgomery, Orange, Suffolk, Ulster, Washington, Westchester Counties;
Appeals to Court of Chancery

1846 - Present
Jurisdiction in each county over administration, probate, guardianship and adoptions;
Appeals to Supreme Court - General Term & Appellate Division




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