Cortland County Surrogate’s Court

About the Court

The Surrogate’s Court maintains jurisdiction over all actions and proceedings relating to the affairs of decedents including the probate of wills and administration of estates. The Surrogate’s Court in Cortland County also processes all guardianship and adoption proceedings.

Cortland County Surrogate’s Court has records of decedents beginning in 1805. Indexes of court files are available and can be viewed during business hours.

All adoption records are sealed and are not accessible to anyone without a Court Order. The estate tax returns filed between May 1990 and January 2001 are also sealed. Public access to other certain documents may be limited, or subject to written permission, pursuant to court rules:

1. All documents in guardianship proceedings;
2. Death Certificates;
3. Tax returns;
4. Documents containing social security numbers;
5. Firearms inventory;
6. Inventory of assets.

Land records, census records and other information is available in the Cortland County Clerk’s Office which is located on the 1st floor of the courthouse.

Cortland Surrogate’s Court is a mandatory efiling county.