Surrogate's Court also handles guardianships of the person and/or property of infants and guardianship issues involving mentally retarded or developmentally disabled individuals.

Surrogate records dated from 1964 to 2000 and from the year 2006 to the present are now available online. Many early court records dating back to 1805 are also available online and may be viewed on public access terminals located in the Lewis County Courthouse. Records may also be viewed from your own home computer. To obtain a password to access these records from your home computer, log onto: http://surrogate5th.courts.state.ny.us/onbase. At the site there is a web registration form to complete and submit to Onondaga County Surrogate Court. After the user name and password is setup, you will receive a confirmation directing you to the correct site to obtain the records. Instructions will also be included with the confirmation. Without a password, the public is only able to obtain file information. .

All official Surrogate forms promulgated by the New York State Office of Court Administration are accepted in this county. HotDocs of the New York State Bar Association are also accepted. Any computer generated forms must have certification attached (22 NYCRR 207.4(b)) and will be accepted for filing provided:

• the text shall be the same as that contained in the official forms; and
• the attorney or party preparing such form shall certify at the end thereof that the form is the same as the official form and that the substantive text has not been altered.