MEET THE SURROGATE
Maureen T. Raisch serves as the Monmouth County Surrogate, an elected Constitutional Officer entrusted with overseeing the Surrogate Court and administering matters involving probate, estate administration, guardianships, and adoptions. In this capacity, she also serves as Deputy Clerk to the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Probate Part, and Family Part, and as Judge of the Surrogate’s Court.
Surrogate Raisch is responsible for maintaining and preserving county probate, guardianship, and adoption records, some of which date back to the 1700s. She manages the Surrogate Intermingled Trust Fund, safeguarding and investing more than $20 million on behalf of minors.
Known for her thoughtful and compassionate approach, Surrogate Raisch brings both professional expertise and personal understanding to her work. Having experienced losses in her own life, she is deeply committed to providing steady, compassionate guidance to Monmouth County residents during some of their most difficult moments.
Since taking office, Surrogate Raisch has prioritized accessibility, modernization, and public outreach within the Surrogate Court. Recognizing that probate and guardianship matters can be complex and unfamiliar, she has worked to demystify court processes and expand public access to reliable information. Her initiatives include a comprehensive redesign of the Surrogate’s Office website, the creation of expanded FAQ resources, and the implementation of multilingual, AI-driven systems to enhance accessibility and efficiency. She introduced a step-by-step online probate filing platform through an eFile portal, developed a self-help guardianship guide, and authored practical educational booklets to assist residents in understanding wills and estate planning.
In 2025, Surrogate Raisch received national recognition as an AI 50 Public Sector Innovator by the Center for Public Sector AI and Government Technology for her leadership in responsibly integrating artificial intelligence into her operations. She has served as Surrogate Section Chief for the Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey (COANJ) and as a member of the statewide Judiciary–Surrogate Liaison Committee. She was honored with a Women in Leadership Award by Monmouth County and received a Certificate of Appreciation from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2179 and its Ladies Auxiliary for her dedicated support of veterans’ programs.
Prior to her election, Surrogate Raisch devoted more than twenty years to public service in the Middletown Township Mayor’s Office, where she implemented key initiatives and programs under ten mayors. That tenure provided extensive knowledge of municipal operations, public administration, and constituent services, forming the foundation for her commitment to responsive, accessible government.
Deeply engaged in her community, she has served as President and Trustee of the Lincroft Senior Citizen Housing Corporation, as a Trustee of the Luftman Pavilion senior housing facility, and as a board member of the Middletown Township Cultural & Arts Council. For more than eight years, she has volunteered as a grief support facilitator at Stephy’s Place in Red Bank, supporting individuals coping with grief and loss.
A resident of Middletown for more than 35 years, Surrogate Raisch remains deeply committed to serving the community she proudly calls home. She welcomes opportunities to engage with community organizations, schools, and civic groups to share information about the vital services offered through the Monmouth County Surrogate’s Office.