§ 601 Definition of decree and order; how order enforced

When a Surrogate's Court makes a final decision about the rights of the people involved in a case, that decision is called a "decree." If the court gives a written instruction that isn't part of that final decision, it's called an "order" instead.

Both decrees and orders from Surrogate's Court carry the same legal weight as similar decisions made by the Supreme Court in a regular lawsuit. This means they can be enforced the same way. If someone doesn't follow a decree or order from Surrogate's Court, the same enforcement tools that apply to Supreme Court judgments can be used to make sure it's followed.