Surrogate's court continued; judges; jurisdiction

§ 12. a. The surrogate's court is continued in each county in the\nstate. There shall be at least one judge of the surrogate's court in\neach county and such number of additional judges of the surrogate's\ncourt as may be provided by law.\n b. The judges of the surrogate's court shall be residents of the\ncounty and shall be chosen by the electors of the county.\n c. The terms of the judges of the surrogate's court in the city of New\nYork shall be fourteen years, and in other counties ten years, from and\nincluding the first day of January next after their election.\n d. The surrogate's court shall have jurisdiction over all actions and\nproceedings relating to the affairs of decedents, probate of wills,\nadministration of estates and actions and proceedings arising thereunder\nor pertaining thereto, guardianship of the property of minors, and such\nother actions and proceedings, not within the exclusive jurisdiction of\nthe supreme court, as may be provided by law.\n e. The surrogate's court shall exercise such equity jurisdiction as\nmay be provided by law.\n f. The provisions of this section shall in no way limit or impair the\njurisdiction of the supreme court as set forth in section seven of this\narticle.\n