New York Consolidated Laws, Surrogate's Court Procedure Act - SCP § 2603. Surrogate and acting surrogate

1. The judge of the surrogate's court may be designated as the surrogate.  He may sign any paper wherever he may be at any time.

2. Where the county judge is also a judge of the surrogate's court he shall be designated as such without any addition referring to his office as county judge.

3. Where a judicial officer other than the judge of the surrogate's court acts as a judge of the surrogate's court in a case prescribed by law, he may be designated as “surrogate”, notwithstanding his official title.

4. No person other than the one who holds such office on the effective date of this act may serve in the office of judge of the surrogate's court unless he or she has been admitted to practice law in the state of New York for at least 10 years as of the date he or she commences the duties of office.