Queens County Surrogate's Court

The worst. No one is there to explain anything to you, asking something a question you get a face like you are bothering them, and then you get an attitude on top of all of it. No one has any compassion for people who are taking a lot of time and effort out of their day to get this type of paperwork done. It's also an emotional thing, if you are are dealing with someone's estate that means they are deceased and that is difficult thing to deal with in the middle of your grief. I'm not saying the people who work here don't deal with a lot of shit, I'm sure they do, but they could be just a tiny bit more civil, HUMAN, even to people they interact with.

Willie and Renae Carr
Far Rockaway, NY 11691

Honorable Mayor Bill de Blasio:
New York City Office of the Mayor
City Hall Park,
New York, NY 10007


Dear Mayor de Blasio

I am filing a formal complaint against the 11th Jurist District of Queens County Surrogate's Office - located at -11 Sutphin Boulevard in Queens, New York, where James Becker is Chief Clerk.

I am a disabled veteran who has attempted on two (2) separate occasions to file guardianship papers on behalf of our son, Storm Carr, who has Down Syndrome. Both attempts were met with disdain and discord as the very large Black Woman who sits at the front desk continues to provide misinformation to consumers, with absolutely no accountability.

This woman deliberately directed my family to secure original documentation from every single guardian and/or proposed guardian on the application. This request was completely erroneous and Mr. Becker has blatantly refused to acknowledge the error.

My family was made to incur time and expense as a result of this clerk giving out false information. When we questioned why, the Chief Clerk, James Becker refused to provide an explanation for his staff's mistake (or to apologize for the cost time and cost our family sustained) and instead refused to allow us to file on behalf of our son. Mr. Blake, who was advised that I am a Disabled Veteran, then called officers to ask me to leave the court.

I am writing as a property owner in Queens, as a Disabled United States Veteran and as a Tax Paying Citizen of New York City. We need a response from your office as to how we should proceed. Our disabled son is still without proper representation and the Queens County Surrogate's Office, specifically Mr. James Becker, has made it almost impossible for us to file.

I will not stop until we receive satisfaction and our son has the proper guardianship in place. Rude and inept staff will not stop us. On two separate occasions we tried to file. Two times we came in and were turned away without cause. That means that this office has failed to service the community adequately on at least two separate occasion and I will not, as a passionate advocate for my son, allow this to go unnoticed.

A copy of this letter is being sent to the news, as well. However, we are hopeful, Mayor de Blasio, that your office will address this as well.

anxiously awaiting your reply.

With warm regards,


Reverend and Mrs. Willie C. Carr

cc: Honorable Peter J. Kelley

If "ms. Singleton" is not in the office the whole place (admin office) is gone to shits. There is no order, so I don't know why people have to bother to sign in. People skip one another. The admins here keep their heads down and be sure not to make eye contact with people who walk in so that they aren't asked questions or "forced" to help anyone. THIS IS YOUR JOB PEOPLE... you are here in the office because you chose to work today, why try to avoid work at work? Giving people out dated affidavits to fill out (ms. Wenda) should be unacceptable. There are tons of people looking for jobs. ... perhaps the staff in the admin office here should be re-evaluated. This office, especially "Ms. Wenda" ... are very lazy. The whole office needs to be replaced with four More Ms. singletarys'. That is all.

Conversation with the Administration Clerk
Me: Good afternoon, can I please give you a file #?
Clerk: Why?
Me: you said why?
Clerk: Yes. Why?
Me: I have a question about an estate. Don't you want to see which estate I am referring to?
Clerk: you can ask the question.
Me: *asks question*
Clerk: Can I have the file #?
*on hold for 17 minutes*
Another clerk answers phone asking if I am being helped.
Clerk 2: what do you need?
Me: can I give you a file #?
Clerk 2: if you are calling for the status we dont give statuses.
Me: I am not calling about a status I just want to make sure you received a document I sent.
Clerk 2: You need the decree signed?
Me: No... I sent a document and want to know if you received it.
Clerk 2: I heard you.
Me: so did you receive it?

Please administration clerks.... quit your job if you hate working there. This is the Surrogates Court. You are constantly dealing with estates and people who lost their loved ones. Show a little compassion. Never in my life had to deal with a miserable bunch of morons.

during a stressful divorce filing, cashier yelled at me and rudely ripped the paper away from me when i asked for clarification on the index filings. she was absolutely preoccupied with some video she was watching with her coworker but i annoyed her when she had to do a job she's there to do and paid to do. it's terrible when people come to work to chill and coast especially at a government job. i just wonder what type of work ethic this lady passed down to her children. don't be condescending to someone for asking a simple question or request because it's annoying to do your job. if you don't like your job or feel like you're not being paid enough to sit behind a desk and periodically push a piece of paper from one side of the desk to the next, then learn to love yourself and the rest of the world and gtfo so someone who is capable of not being a bitch would actually fill that position.

I've actually been having a good experience with the court personnel. When I treat people with respect and dignity they actually respond with the same attitude. It's usually not a good thing to have to show up here so why not not make it as painless as possible? And get here early! The line to get in backs up around 9-915am. Although I got through it in about 20 minutes. I had to take off my belt (metal buckle) and plastic watch (tiny metal buckle). You must remove all items in your pockets and place them in a box for Xray.

So, I'm not coming at this with no experience. I worked for 20 years as a forensic social worker. I have been a Guardian before. I know the courts. And yet, I am horrified by the behavior and attitude of these clerks. Rude, unnecessarily combative, and ignorant. Clearly anyone walking into the Administration has suffered a loss and trying to manage their loved ones affairs. You'd think maybe there would be an iota of compassion. Not only is there not, but you are treated like a moron for asking questions or not knowing the answer. You are treated like it's too bad you have been waiting for two months for letters and no one responds to you. No information is willing shared forcing you to ask basic questions, like, "Well, ok, I need to send in x form. Do you have x form and where can I get x form." They treat you like a burden. It would behove them to understand that if they treated the individuals that came in with respect, their lives would actually be easier. For example, when I call and explain I will likely need emergency letters (even though, waiting two months doesn't exactly seem like an emergency) MAYBE if you explain what could be done to expedite the process when I first called, you could have avoided three more phone calls. There's an attitude of "Well, DID YOU DO THIS?" Uhm...no, because even though I asked what I needed to do, what I got was an attitude and no direction until my third call and many, many minutes on hold. I understand this is a stressful job, however, treating people with some respect, especially given the nature of this job, would benefit everyone, especially the employee.

why does the court sell your information to people to be harassed? We have been getting ;letters and calls from people that should not have pour info the court is the only place that knows what is going on and we have now been contacted by 21 real estate agents and people wanting to buy our property... This type of selling of my information should be illegal... if this isn't illegal it should be ... plus the manager of the administration office is a horrible spite filled woman.... she gets off on her treatment of people... She raises her voice so others hear to try and embarrass you, she speaks in a nasty manner, is demeaning, and does not want to do work... She chuckled at your sorrow ... She tries to make it harder for you as opposed to helping ... the 2 ladies at the desks in front 1 on the right and 1 on the left were not only helpful but informative.... and the manager in the back right desk will let you sit there for hours run out time so you can not pay at the cashier and have to come back she needs to be fired

My brother, sister & I are in the middle of a surrogate law suit. My 2nd cousin was ORDERED to fill in paperwork months and months ago.She was ordered to attend before Judge Kelly, the county of Queens, on the 5th day on Feb 2015.
She delayed again. She did not, she was ordered 2 months ago to show up with all her paperwork within 10-15 days. .She did not to our knowledge BUT she had copies sent to our attorney. Shouldn't she have to re-appear in court as Judge Kelly ordered to show him the original will? . I am very worried.. My brother said that Judge Peter Kelly gave him the right to look at said paper of Gramma's estate, he never got that opportunity. I have a reason to believe that she does not have an original will. When I tore Gramma's house apart & threw out the furniture crawling in bugs. Under the bed I came across 3 wills. MaeEllen insisted I give them to her. I did NOT! Her original will was torn into one inch pieces and looks to be thrown under the mattress. The other 2 wills were originals that had Susan Lombardi's name on them. Even tho MaeEllen said she wanted them, I figured Susan's name-Susan's papers. I mailed them to Susan. Now MaeEllen has sold my Gramma's property and kept the monies to herself. During the years she has emptied 4 bank accounts. She has used and mislead people to ensure she would get away with this. I asked her many times over the years, how she can hold onto her house, while the State on NY pays her way in the nursing home. She just said she had it covered lying about the fact that she put the house in her name years before. She is a 2nd cousin, we are the grand children. IF we can't trust the Judge to follow through, then who can we trust????? I don't know how to get Judge Kelly to make her do what he has asked her to do.... If anyone has any advice please get in touch with one of us... thank you

Unfortunately, this updated review finds no improvement in Queens Surrogate Court's staffing. The staff have absolutely no people skills and are extremely obnoxious. The whole lot of them should be fired and replaced with decent civil servants. Middle schoolers could run this place more effectively than the current staff.