2012 cover 2.qxp - Monmouth County

MONMOUTH COUNTY
SURROGATE
MONMOUTH COUNTY
COUNTY CLERK
Rosemarie D. Peters
THE SURROGATE is an elected official authorized by the constitution of the State of
New Jersey and carries a five-year term. The Surrogate's Court is a department of
county government, as well as a branch of the Superior Court of New Jersey in the
Chancery Division. The Surrogate serves as Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court,
Chancery Division, Probate Part, and Chancery Division, Family Part for adoptions, as
well as Judge of the Surrogate's Court.
The County Surrogate has the authority to qualify executors and trustees named in
wills, to appoint administrators for those who die without wills, and to appoint guardians
for minors and legally incapacitated persons. The office is also responsible for overseeing
the procedure in contested estate matters, in the declaration of incapacitation, in appointment
of guardians, and in the granting of adoptions in the Superior Court of New Jersey.
The Surrogate is the custodian of the permanent records of estates, wills, guardianships,
and adoptions. All permanent records dating back to the late 1700s are filed in the
Surrogate's Court providing information for title searchers, genealogists, and local historians.
The Surrogate places adoption records under seal and maintains these records. The
Surrogate's Court is also custodian of funds awarded to minors through settlements,
inheritances, or as beneficiaries of life insurance proceeds.
The Surrogate's office is located on the first floor of the Hall of Records, 1 East
Main Street, Freehold. There are also three satellite offices: the Middletown Library,
Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m; the Wall Township Library, 2700 Allaire Road,
Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m; and the Ocean Township Library, 701 Deal Road ,
Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments should be made in advance for the
satellite offices.
Rosemarie D. Peters, Esq., is serving in her second term as Monmouth County
Surrogate. She was a member of the Middletown Township Committee and served as
mayor and deputy mayor. She is currently a member of the NJ Supreme Court’s Judiciary-
Surrogate Liaison Committee.
Peters is a past member of the Executive Board and Legislative Review Committee
of the NJ State League of Municipalities. She is a graduate of Rutgers School of Law-
Newark, Thomas A. Edison State College, and Brookdale Community College.
THE COUNTY CLERK
M. CLAIRE FRENCH
is an official authorized by the constitution of the State of New
Jersey and carries a five-year term. M. Claire French, a resident of Monmouth County
for more than 50 years, has been serving as County Clerk since January 1997. She lives in
Wall Township with her husband Robert.
Prior to her election as County Clerk, French served the Township of Wall as Mayor,
a member of the governing body and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Board.
In 1986, the freeholders appointed French to serve as the first Chair of the
Monmouth County Improvement Authority, an office she held for 10 years.
Previously, she was appointed by Gov. Thomas Kean to serve on the NJ Job Training
Council and by Gov. Christie Whitman to serve on the Local Finance Board.
French remains active on the boards of directors of a number of organizations
including the Central Jersey Blood Bank and the Information Age and Learning Center at
Camp Evans. She chairs Meridian’s Government and Community Relations Committee,
and is a member of the Association for the Blind and Trustee of the 200 Club.
The County Clerk’s responsibilities can be divided into five functions: Recording,
Elections, Archives, Passports, and the Office of Records Management.
The Recording Division is responsible for recording all real property records for the
County, to include mortgages, land title deeds, liens, and trade names, in addition to many
other documents. French pioneered the Electronic Recording Technology in New Jersey,
which is now shared with 13 Counties.
The Election Division prepares the actual ballot, processes vote-by-mail applications,
tabulates election totals and certifies results to the Secretary of State.
The Archives Division stores a high volume of county records, some of which date
as far back as the 17th century and are also available to the public.
The Passport Division assists persons seeking passports.
The Office of Records Management has been established to manage and expand
upon the county’s electronic records archives and the County’s open public records
system.
The County Clerk’s Office also provides resident and veteran identification cards to
county residents, performs weddings and administers oaths to notaries and public officials.
10 MONMOUTH COUNTY DIRECTORY MONMOUTH COUNTY DIRECTORY 11