New Jersey Probate: The Basics

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Jeffrey Johnson

Insurance Lawyer

Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...

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Written by
Jeffrey Johnson

Jeffrey Johnson

Insurance Lawyer

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Reviewed by
Jeffrey Johnson

Updated January 2025

When a family member dies, there’s more to attend to than funeral arrangements. New Jersey probate laws govern the collection and distribution of a decedent’s assets (called their “estate”) to heirs and successors. But don’t be daunted by what seems like the complicated world of New Jersey probate – many probate procedures are easy enough to take on without a lawyer.

Bypassing New Jersey Probate

The best news is that some property does not have to go through the New Jersey probate system at all. Applicable property includes that which is subject to joint tenancy (owned by two or more persons, one of whom is usually a surviving spouse), such as bank accounts, cars, or a house. In addition, living trusts which designate a clear beneficiary may not have to go through New Jersey probate.

Additional New Jersey Probate Resources

List of New Jersey Surrogates

New Jersey Probate Court(search Title 3 Administration of Estates)

Atlantic/Cape May
Bergen
Burlington
Camden
Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem
Essex
Hudson
Hunterdon/Somerset/Warren
Mercer
Middlesex
Monmouth
Morris
Ocean
Passiac
Union