N.Y. Surr. Ct. Proc. Act § 2603

§ 2603. Surrogate and acting surrogate\n 1. The judge of the surrogate's court may be designated as the\nsurrogate. He may sign any paper wherever he may be at any time.\n 2. Where the county judge is also a judge of the surrogate's court he\nshall be designated as such without any addition referring to his office\nas county judge.\n 3. Where a judicial officer other than the judge of the surrogate's\ncourt acts as a judge of the surrogate's court in a case prescribed by\nlaw, he may be designated as "surrogate", notwithstanding his official\ntitle.\n 4. No person other than the one who holds such office on the effective\ndate of this act may serve in the office of judge of the surrogate's\ncourt unless he or she has been admitted to practice law in the state of\nNew York for at least 10 years as of the date he or she commences the\nduties of office.\n