N.Y. Const. art. VI, § 12: Surrogate's court continued; judges; jurisdiction

§ 12. a. The surrogate's court is continued in each county in the

state. There shall be at least one judge of the surrogate's court in

each county and such number of additional judges of the surrogate's

court as may be provided by law.

b. The judges of the surrogate's court shall be residents of the

county and shall be chosen by the electors of the county.

c. The terms of the judges of the surrogate's court in the city of New

York shall be fourteen years, and in other counties ten years, from and

including the first day of January next after their election.

d. The surrogate's court shall have jurisdiction over all actions and

proceedings relating to the affairs of decedents, probate of wills,

administration of estates and actions and proceedings arising thereunder

or pertaining thereto, guardianship of the property of minors, and such

other actions and proceedings, not within the exclusive jurisdiction of

the supreme court, as may be provided by law.

e. The surrogate's court shall exercise such equity jurisdiction as

may be provided by law.

f. The provisions of this section shall in no way limit or impair the

jurisdiction of the supreme court as set forth in section seven of this

article.