Who is a respondent in a surrogate's court proceeding?

• A. The petitioner.
• B. The attorney for the petitioner.
• C. Every party to a proceeding except a petitioner.
• D. The court clerk.

Answer: (C)

In Surrogate’s Court, the person who files the petition is the petitioner, and anyone who must respond to that petition is a respondent. All other parties with an interest in the matter—heirs, beneficiaries, interested relatives, or others served with the petition—are respondents. The attorney for the petitioner isn’t a separate party, and the court clerk is a court staff member, not a party to the proceeding. So the description that fits best is that every party to the proceeding except the petitioner is a respondent.