Get Ocean County Surrogates Court

A regular New Jersey probate can take less than one year. After the probate is opened, the executor or administrator will have to make sure that all creditors are satisfied. A creditor has 9 months from the decedent's death to make a claim in the estate. See Deadlines and Timelines in New Jersey Probate.

If you need additional help or documents from the Surrogate's Office, such as a Surrogate Certificate (a document confirming that the will has been probated, and an Executor/Administrator has been appointed), please call us at 973-285-6500.

If you need additional help or documents from the Surrogate's Office, such as a Surrogate Certificate (a document confirming that the will has been probated, and an Executor/Administrator has been appointed), please call us at 973-285-6500.

The Surrogate is often referred to as a Constitutional Officer. The Surrogate's office has the responsibility of probating wills, qualifying executors, appointing administrators for those estates without wills, and qualifying guardians of incapacitated persons and minors.

In Bergen County, an individual can probate a decedent's Last Will & Testament in the Surrogate's Court, with or without the assistance of a lawyer, in usually under an hour. You need to make an appointment. The Surrogate's Court will work with you in completing the probate process. The cost is generally $100 to $200.

The Surrogate's Court is established in every county to hear cases involving the affairs of decedents, including the probate of wills, and the administration of estates and trust proceedings. Family, Supreme, and Surrogate's Courts have concurrent jurisdiction over guardianships of the person and property of infants.

The Surrogate's Court is a court of limited jurisdiction. The Surrogate, a Judge of this Court by New Jersey Constitution, is the person who passes on the validity of a Will, gives the executor proof of authority to administer the estate and sees to it that the executor handles the estate properly.