The Text

The existing surrogates’ courts are continued, and the surrogates now in office shall hold their offices until the expiration of their terms. Their successors shall be chosen by the electors of their respective counties, and their terms of office shall be six years, except in the county of New York, where they shall continue to be fourteen years. Surrogates and surrogates’ courts shall have the jurisdiction and powers now prescribed by the legislature until otherwise provided by law. The county judge shall be surrogate of his county, except where a separate surrogate has been or shall be elected. In counties having a population exceeding forty thousand, wherein there is no separate surrogate, the legislature may provide for the election of a separate officer to be surrogate, whose term of office shall be six years. When the surrogate shall be elected as a separate officer his salary shall be established by law, payable out of the county treasury. Vacancies occurring in the office of judge of the court of general sessions of the city of New York, judge of the city court of New York, county judge, special county judge or surrogate shall be filled in the same manner as like vacancies occurring in the supreme court. For the relief of surrogates’ courts the legislature may confer upon the supreme court in any county having a population exceeding four hundred thousand, the powers and jurisdiction of surrogates. A surrogate of any county may hold a surrogate’s court in any other county when requested by the surrogate of such other county. The legislature may at any time consolidate the offices of county judge and surrogate in any county.