MORRIS COUNTY โ Morris County Surrogate Heather Darling was sworn into office by Superior Courtย Assignmentย Judgeย Stuart Minkowitz on Friday, January 3 at the Board of Freeholdersโ 2020 Annual Meeting, held in Morristown.
The incumbent, John Pecoraro retired after 25 years in office. Darling, a Roxbury resident and attorney, ran for freeholder in 2017 when Hank Lyon gave up his seat to seek the Republican nomination for State Assembly in the 26th district.
Darling says that Pecoraroโs retirement โoffers an opportunity for me to bring new ideas and make significant changes for the benefit of seniors and special needs citizens in Morris County.โ
A surrogate is aย judicial officer, elected by the people, having jurisdiction over the probate of wills, the administration of estates, and more.
Surrogate Heather Darlingย was first elected to serve the residents of Morris County in 2019. Each term of office is five years. The full title of the office is โJudge of the Surrogate Court.โ
The function of the Judge of the Morris County Surrogate Court includes:
- administeringย wills,ย estates,ย guardianships, andย trustsย for Morris County residents
- serving asย clerkย of the Superior Court
- assisting activities ranging fromย adoptionsย toย incompetency matters
- managing theย Minorsโ Intermingled Trust Fundย and holding, as custodian, approximately $25 million in that fund for Morris County minors
Morris County Surrogate Court is located at 10 Court Street, Fifth Floor, Morristown. For more information call (973) 285-6500.