by the people
Gov

Surrogate's Court Judge

Nelida Malave Gonzalez

Democratic

Surrogate of Bronx County since Jan. 2013, with a current term that ends Dec. 31, 2026.

On the Democratic line for Surrogate of Bronx County in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election.

OverviewCases & recordSupport

Surrogate, Bronx County, since Jan. 2013 · Admitted to the New York bar in 1992

Selected cases & rulings

Surrogate's Court proceedings

Surrogate's Court order partly changed on appeal

Bullard v. Sheffer (2022 NY Slip Op 03963) · June 16, 2022

Bronx County Surrogate who issued the order that was appealed.

Issued an order in the case in Bronx County Surrogate's Court.

What this tells you

The appeals court changed part of her order on a point of law.

CourtListener — Bullard v. Sheffer, 2022 NY Slip Op 03963 (Appellate Division) ↗
Case context & history

The question: What the order decided is not described in the sources found.

Outcome / stage: The Appellate Division unanimously modified the order on the law on June 16, 2022.

The most recent of her rulings found to have been reviewed on appeal.

Subsequent history: Reviewed by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, which modified the order on June 16, 2022.

Surrogate's Court proceedings

Surrogate's Court decree partly changed on appeal

Matter of Bank of N.Y. (Blumenkrantz) (193 A.D.3d 634) · April 29, 2021

Bronx County Surrogate who entered the decree that was appealed.

Entered a decree in the case in Bronx County Surrogate's Court.

What this tells you

A unanimous appeals panel changed part of this decree.

CourtListener — Matter of Bank of N.Y. (Blumenkrantz), 193 A.D.3d 634 (Appellate Division) ↗
Case context & history

The question: The sources found do not describe what the decree resolved.

Outcome / stage: The Appellate Division unanimously modified the decree on April 29, 2021.

Her decree was entered in Bronx County Surrogate's Court, where she has been Surrogate since Jan. 2013.

Subsequent history: Reviewed by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, which modified the decree on April 29, 2021.

Surrogate's Court proceedings

Surrogate's Court decree upheld on appeal

Matter of Gould (2019 NY Slip Op 3918) · May 21, 2019

Bronx County Surrogate who entered the decree that was appealed.

Entered a decree in the case in Bronx County Surrogate's Court.

What this tells you

The appeals court upheld her decree without dissent.

CourtListener — Matter of Gould, 2019 NY Slip Op 3918 (Appellate Division) ↗
Case context & history

The question: What the decree decided is not described in the sources found.

Outcome / stage: The Appellate Division unanimously affirmed (upheld) the decree on May 21, 2019.

Decided by the Appellate Division in May 2019.

Subsequent history: Reviewed by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, which affirmed the decree on May 21, 2019.

Surrogate's Court proceedings

Surrogate's Court order appealed

Matter of Eugene (2018 NY Slip Op 2561) · March 17, 2017

Bronx County Surrogate who issued the order that was appealed.

Issued an order in Bronx County Surrogate's Court, entered March 17, 2017.

What this tells you

The order was taken to the Appellate Division, which decided the appeal in 2018.

CourtListener — Matter of Eugene, 2018 NY Slip Op 2561 (Appellate Division) ↗
Case context & history

The question: The subject of the order is not described in the sources found.

Outcome / stage: The Appellate Division decided the appeal on April 12, 2018; how it ruled was not established in the sources found.

The appeal was decided about 13 months after the order was entered.

History coverage: The Appellate Division's April 12, 2018 decision was found, but its result was not established.

Family Court

Published Family Court opinion

Matter of Elijah W. (2006 NY Slip Op 26299) · July 21, 2006

Judge of the Family Court in Bronx County who signed the published opinion.

Signed the court's published opinion.

What this tells you

A published opinion from her years as a judge before she became Surrogate.

CourtListener — Matter of Elijah W., 2006 NY Slip Op 26299 (Family Court, Bronx County) ↗
Case context & history

The question: The subject of the case is not described in the sources found.

Outcome / stage: The opinion was issued July 21, 2006.

Issued in the New York Family Court, Bronx County.

History coverage: Later appellate history of this decision was not checked.

She is registered with the New York bar as Nelida Malave; court records and most sources give her name as Nelida Malave-Gonzalez. The dates of her work presiding over Family, Criminal and Supreme Court matrimonial cases, at the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs and at the New York City Law Department were not found. No bar association rating of her for this race was found as of Oct. 1, 2026. The cases listed are one published opinion she signed in 2006 and four of her Surrogate's Court rulings reviewed by the Appellate Division, found as of Oct. 1, 2026; the sources found say little about what most of them decided.

Professional experience

Bar admission & conduct

Bar admission

Admitted 1992 · City University of New York School of Law

NYS Attorney Registrations (data.ny.gov) — registration of Nelida Malave ↗Bronx County Surrogate's Court newsletter (2013), New York State Unified Court System ↗Ballotpedia — Nelida Malave-Gonzalez ↗Historical Society of the New York Courts — Interview with Hon. Nelida Malave-Gonzalez ↗The Riverdale Press — Two Bronxites race to replace surrogate court judge (page 2) ↗
Judicial conduct

No public determination naming Nelida Malave Gonzalez, Nelida Malave or Nelida Malave-Gonzalez in the State Commission on Judicial Conduct's determination database (checked Oct. 1, 2026).

NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct — public determination list ↗
Nelida Malave Gonzalez for Bronx Surrogate's Court Judge (2026) | By The People