As the year comes to a close, and we begin to resume life as we once knew it, we take note of some of the significant decisions that were rendered in the final months of 2021.

Vacatur of Court Order Affirmed by Third Department

Although the Surrogate’s Court often considers motions to vacate a default in pleading, it has the inherent authority to vacate its own judgments or orders for sufficient cause. This authority was the basis for the Appellate Division’s decision in In re Braunstein, 194 A.D.3d 1165 (3d Dep’t 2021), in which the court affirmed an order of the Surrogate’s Court, Chemung County granting respondent’s motion to vacate a prior order.