Hudson County Surrogate’s Court
Hudson County Administration Building
595 Newark Avenue
4th Floor, Room 407
Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone: 201-795-6378
Fax: 201-795-5488
Email: hcsurrogate@hcnj.us
Monday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Tuesday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Thursday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Friday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Please Be Advised That The Surrogate’s Court Is Open To The Public, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please Call 201-795-6378 to Schedule A Date And Time To Come In.
Administration Estate Information Sheet
CERTIFICATION OF PUBLICATION_MAILING
Affidavit of Assets – Substitute Administration
Next of Kin Consent – USED FOR SMALL ESTATE AFFIDAVITS UNDER $20K
Administration Ad Prosequendum Renunciation – USED FOR WRONGFUL DEATH PURPOSES ONLY
Surviving Spouse Renunciation of Administration
Next of Kin Administration Renunciation
Application for Guardianship of Person and Estate
Background Policy for Proposed Guardians
Form Certification of Criminal and Civil Judgment History – Proposed Guardian
Form of Judgment of Incapacity for Guardianship of Person and Property
Form Judgment of Incapacity for Guardianship of Person Only
Form Order to Show Cause for Guardianship
Introductory Instructions on Guardianship Reporting Form 11795
Guardianship Cover Page Form 11797
Guardianship Report of Well Being Form 11798
Guardianship Inventory Form 11799
Guardianship EZ Accounting Form 11800
Guardianship Comprehensive Form 11801
Guardianship Case Information Statement Form 11920
Guardianship Certification of Assets Form 12011
Guardianship Certification of Physician or Psychologist Form 12012
Guardianship Certification of Physician or Psychologist Form 12042
Guardianship Reporting Form Manual
Request for Adoption Information
Guardianship Request for Information
Order to Show Cause for Probate
Will – Fact and Information Sheet
Affidavit of Assets for executor’s bond
Administration CTA Affidavit of Assets
Renunciation Admnistration C.T.A.
Renunciation of Substituted Admnistration C.T.A
Testamentary Guardianship Consent of Surviving Parent
Testamentary Renunciation for Guardianship
How to obtain a certified copy of a death certificate?
Certified copies of death certificates are available from Local Registrars for the municipality where the death occurred. Click here for listing of municipalities in Hudson County.
Please Note: Probate cannot be completed until the day following the tenth day after death.
The named executor must bring the following to the Surrogate’s Court:
Names and Address of Next of Kin-This includes the names and addresses of closest next of kin including any of the children of the decedent’s alive or deceased, children of the decedent’s deceased sibling, if the decedent had no surviving spouse or children.
Personal Check, Credit or Debit Card or Cash for filing fees and costs: Generally, filing fees and costs are approximately $150-$200. This varies based upon the length of the Will and complexities of the estate. The filing fee for the Will is $100.00 dollars for the first two pages and $5.00 for each additional page. The cost of Surrogate’s Certificates is $5.00 per certificate.
The next of kin of the decedent have the right to be appointed. This is determined by statute. The surviving spouse or domestic partner has the first right. Children of the decedent are next. However, any heir may be appointed assuming they obtain the appropriate renunciations from any other heir who has an equal or prior right to be appointed.
You must still go through the probate process. You will be required to bring:
Original Death certificate With Raised Seal
Renunciations, if applicable, from parties not willing to serve as administrator. Please call 201-795-6378 for more information.
A list of the decedent’s assets and an approximate value of each.(i.e The Make, Model and Vin number for any car in the decedent’s name alone, Bank Account information such as Bank name, Account number and most recent statement.)
It generally takes between Thirty to Forty- Five Minutes to complete the probate process.
If the original will cannot be found, the next of kin to the deceased would make application for Administration.
The Original Will remains on file in our office and is a public record which can be accessed accordingly. A copy of the will is provided to the executor at the time of probate.
A surety bond is an insurance policy that protects the beneficiaries and creditors of the estate. In some cases Administrators are required by law to obtain a surety bond based on amount to be inherited in order to be appointed. Executors may not be required to obtain a surety bond if the Will waives that requirement. The Costs of the bond are reimbursable by the estate and any other expenses associated with the probate process.
No, an attorney is not required to appear in the Surrogate Court with the applicant.
An estate is considered closed upon the executor, administrator or appointed next-of-kin filing the following in the Surrogate’s Court:
1. Accounting (where formal court proceedings require filing an accounting);
2. Refunding Bond and Release forms from each beneficiary; and
3. Tax waiver from the State of New Jersey
The Annual Report of Guardian must be filed yearly on the anniversary date of a guardian’s appointment, unless the judge specified otherwise on the date of appointment. File the original with the Surrogate and send a copy to the attorney that served as court-appointed counsel. The filing fee for this report is $5.00 per page. Guardianship reporting forms and instructions are provided on our site. Visit the Superior Court forms section for the most current forms and instructions.
A copy of documents probated can be obtained in person, through the mail or online through our online index. The fee for a copy is $3.00/page; searches are $10.00 per estate through the mail payable to the Surrogate of Hudson County, via check or money order.