For Immediate Release:

January 9, 2012

FREEHOLD, NJ – Rosemarie D. Peters was sworn in to her second, five-year term as Monmouth County’s Surrogate on Thursday. In remarks she praised her office staff of 19 for the dedication and compassion they show to residents who often are going through difficult, emotional times.

Visitors to the Surrogate’s Office either just lost a loved one, are caregivers to an elderly parent or a developmentally-disabled child, or they have been waiting for a long time to adopt a child.

Peters read from this letter sent to her by a resident: “I would like to praise you for your stellar customer service etiquette, kindness, patience and sense of humor … In a world of people being too busy and impatient to take time to help others, this was a beautiful change of pace.”

“The Surrogate’s Office requires a special kind of employee because the segment of the public we serve are people who are experiencing stressful and difficult times, Peters said. “I hope this helps you to understand why I’m so grateful to have been re-elected to this position. I consider the five years I’ve been given to continue working with the wonderful employees of the Surrogate’s Office a real gift.”

Peters was sworn in at the county’s Organization Day held last Thursday at the Biotech High School in Freehold Township. Also sworn in were Freeholders Lillian G. Burry and Gary J. Rich Sr.

The Surrogate’s Office handles more than 3,000 estates a year; last year oversaw the appointment of more than 200 guardians for minors and another 200 guardians for incapacitated persons; handled the filing, docketing and recording of court papers for nearly 500 cases and more than 200 motions brought before the Superior Court; reviewed or audited 160 inventories and financial accountings filed in estate and guardianship matters, oversaw a trust fund of more than 700 accounts of minors and incapacitated persons totaling more than $27 million dollars, and handled 139 adoptions.

Since Peters was first elected Surrogate five years ago, the Surrogate’s Office has found more efficient and less expensive ways of operating:  

• Opened three satellite Surrogate’s Offices in Wall, Middletown and Ocean townships in order to save residents a trip to downtown Freehold. 
• Obtained a new computer system that’s the most advanced in the state and allows office staff  to perform its work more efficiently; Through her staff’s extensive involvement in the process, the county saved $60,000 over the state contract price.
• One of the benefits of this system is that it’s allowed office staff to track financial reporting requirements of more than 1,000 guardians of incapacitated persons, mostly elderly persons with dementia, to help protect them against financial abuse.
• The Surrogate’s entire records index going back to the 18^th century has been digitized and some of the probate index has been put online. Peters anticipates moving forward with an effort to have all of the office’s records converted to electronic form.
• Finally, Peters instituted a very active outreach program to educate residents in the importance of having a will and getting their financial houses in order.

“I hear over and over from people I meet how grateful they were for the assistance and compassion they received from the employees in our office,” Peters said. “It will be my privilege and honor to give the job my best efforts.”

The Monmouth County Surrogate main office is located in the Hall of Records, l Main Street, Freehold. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The satellite offices are open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the days indicated below:  

·        Middletown Public Library, 55 New Monmouth Rd. on Tuesdays;

·        Ocean Township Library, 701 Deal Rd., on Thursdays; and

·        Wall Township Library, Allaire and Bailey’s Corner roads, on Wednesdays.

For more information about the Surrogate’s office, visit the Monmouth County Web site at www.visitmonmouth.com.

#     #     #