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By Bill Altreuter

I despise Surrogate's Court, and never go there. I have said for years that it exists to concentrate graft adn to steal the pennies from dead men's eyes, but my witicism pales compared with Robert F. Kennedy's remark. He called Surrogates "a political toll booth exacting tribute from widows and orphans."

I cannot think of a single reason to retain the office-- the function could easily be taken over by state Supreme Court Justices. The sole benefit to retaining the "widows and orphan's court" is that in some places (Erie County is one) the staff is helpful to people with relatives who died intestate or left small estates that lawyers won't take on. Of course, in other places (list on request) the court staff constantly has their hands out, looking for a little graft. And in other places everybody wants in on the action.

Full post as published by Outside Counsel on May 23, 2008 (boomark / email).