Surrogate's Corner

Important Message From Essex County Surrogate’s Court

The Essex County Surrogate’s Court supports residents during life’s most challenging times of transition, handling over 10,000 cases annually. Despite the high volume of cases, we take pride in our ability to support everyone who walks through our doors with kindness, humanity, and respect.

Our office is governed by state law, and our role is to help residents understand and navigate these regulations.

We created this video to help Essex County residents learn more about our office and the services we provide.

Essex County Surrogate’s Court Staff Gives Back to the Community

Essex County Surrogate’s Court staff turned gratitude into action this holiday season by personally purchasing and distributing 250 turkeys to schools, churches, and women’s shelters in Essex County and neighboring Hudson County. Members of our team also sponsored a Jersey City-based school and partnered with a local business to host a toy drive for another in an effort to bring holiday cheer to local children.

Essex County Surrogate’s Court Celebrates Adoption Day

On November 21, we were honored to celebrate Adoption Day alongside 11 Essex County families as they finalized their adoptions and participated in this special occasion. Families and their guests enjoyed refreshments, games, activities, and music. Children received books, toys, and other gifts, while families were presented with supermarket gift cards. The Superior Court, Family Part, New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority, and Rutgers Law School, along with our other partners, did a wonderful job celebrating family.

We want to thank Columbia Bank for its generous donation of $2,500 towards the Adoption Day celebration.

Essex County Surrogate’s Court Participates in Annual Essex County Senior Wellness Event

On September 30, our team participated in the annual Essex County Senior Wellness Event. Taking place at the Essex County Richard J. Codey Arena in West Orange, the event offered health screenings, musical entertainment, free food, exercise demonstrations, and other valuable information. Essex County Surrogate’s Court took this opportunity to speak with Essex County residents about Wills and estate planning.

Essex County Surrogate’s Court Celebrates Back-to-School Season in Orange

On August 24, we joined the City of Orange for the Mayor’s Annual Back-to-School Book-bag Giveaway. The event featured a bouncy house, music, face painting, food, and various vendors providing information and resources to the community. Essex County Surrogate’s Court was excited to join the celebration and educate the community about our mission and services.

Essex County Surrogate’s Court Welcomes Interns

Essex County Surrogate’s Court offers an invaluable opportunity for individuals interested in public service careers. That’s why we were happy to offer several internships at our office in 2025. Our interns included two international Rutgers University Law School students from China, two University High School students from the Thurgood Marshall Pre-Law Program, one Essex County Board Commissioner, three Newark youth career pathway students, and a former employee with over 40 years of experience who trained new staff.

Clinton Hill Community Action Homeownership Preservation Program

On March 29, Essex County Surrogate’s Court joined Clinton Hill Community Action (CHCA) for “Estate Planning Part II,” an event offering free advice to Newark residents on how to utilize estate planning to protect their assets. This event is part of CHCA’s homeownership preservation program.

Essex County Surrogate’s Office on Mayor’s Talk with Ted Green of East Orange

On February 11, Essex County Surrogate Alturrick Kenney and Deputy Surrogate Devero McDougal, Esq. appeared on Town Talk with Mayor Ted R. Green of East Orange. The virtual discussion focused on building generational wealth and estate planning to prepare residents for critical life transitions.

Special East Orange Community Meeting with Essex County Surrogate

On January 28, Essex County Surrogate Court joined East Orange Mayor Ted R. Green and Fourth Ward Councilmembers Casim L. Gomez & Tameika Garrett-Ward for “Let’s Talk About It: Estate Planning, Generational Wealth, and Community Impact.” During this special community meeting, our team discussed the benefits of estate planning and answered audience questions.

Newark Board of Education Health & Wellness Fair Spring Block Party

Last weekend, Essex County Surrogate’s Court joined the Newark Board of Education for a fun and educational Health & Wellness Fair Spring Block Party on First Avenue in Newark. The Block Party served as an opportunity to enjoy the warm Spring weather while reminding us to prioritize our joy and wellness.

While we interacted with the community and enjoyed great food, music, and outdoor activities, the ECSC team also shared information and resources about adoptions and guardianships. According to the latest data, there are over 100,000 children nationwide waiting to be adopted. While these numbers are staggering, numerous families want to grow their households. With the support of our community, we can lower these numbers by helping children find their forever homes.