Bergen County Probate Records

Bergen County probate court records are held at the Surrogate's Court in Hackensack. This is one of the first counties formed in New Jersey, with estate records going back to the late 1700s. The Bergen County Surrogate's Court handles all probate filings for the county. You can search for wills, estate papers, and guardianship records through this office. Walk-in visits are welcome on any business day. Probate court records in Bergen County are also available by mail or through remote services. The office can help you find both old and new case files.

Bergen County Surrogate's Court Office

The Bergen County Surrogate's Court is the office that manages all probate court records in the county. Surrogate Michael R. Dressler leads the office. Staff can help you file a will for probate, request copies of estate documents, or search for old case files. The court sits in the Bergen County Plaza in Hackensack. No appointment is needed to visit.

Bergen County was formed on March 7, 1683. It is one of the original counties of East Jersey. Parts of Bergen County later became Passaic County in 1837 and Hudson County in 1840. The Surrogate's Court serves all towns in the county, including Hackensack, Fort Lee, Paramus, Teaneck, and Englewood. All probate court records for these areas are filed at this one office.

The Bergen County Surrogate's Court official website provides details on services and forms.

You can reach the office by phone or email for questions about probate court records in Bergen County.

How to Search Bergen County Probate Court Records

There are a few ways to search for probate court records in Bergen County. The Surrogate's Court keeps dockets and indexes for all estates. You can search by the name of the person who died, the date of death, docket number, or case type. Staff at the office can run these searches for you in person or over the phone.

The New Jersey State Archives holds a large set of old Bergen County probate court records on microfilm. There are 257 reels in total. These cover will books, estate papers, court minutes, and more. The records go back to 1783 for some types. You can view them at the State Archives in Trenton or request copies by mail. The State Archives searchable database can help you find specific records before you visit.

To search probate court records in Bergen County, you will need at least one of these:

• Full name of the person who died
• Date or year of death
• Docket number or case number
• Type of case (will probate, administration, guardianship)

Note: Recording of wills at the county level in Bergen County began in 1804, so earlier records may be less complete.

Bergen County Probate Filing Process

Filing for probate in Bergen County is simple. The process takes less than an hour in most cases. You can walk in on any business day between 8:30 and 4:30. The cost is low compared to many other states. Most people spend between $100 and $200 in total fees at the Bergen County Surrogate's Court.

Under N.J.S.A. 3B:3-22, there is a 10-day wait after the date of death before a will can be filed for probate. This is a state law that applies in Bergen County and all other New Jersey counties. Once those 10 days pass, you can bring the will and other papers to the Surrogate's Court. The filing process under N.J.S.A. 3B:3-19 then begins. The court reviews the will and, if all is in order, issues letters testamentary to the named executor.

If someone dies without a will, a family member can file for letters of administration under N.J.S.A. 3B:10-1. The Bergen County Surrogate's Court handles these cases the same way. The court appoints an administrator to manage the estate. For small estates, N.J.S.A. 3B:10-3 and N.J.S.A. 3B:10-4 offer a shorter process with fewer steps.

You will need to bring these items to the Bergen County Surrogate's Court:

• The original will
• A certified death certificate with a raised seal
• Names and addresses of all fiduciaries
• Next-of-kin information
• Two forms of identification
• Proof of address

Note: If you cannot visit in person, you can send the original will by FedEx, UPS, or certified mail to the Bergen County Surrogate's Court.

Probate Court Records Fees in Bergen County

Bergen County probate fees follow the schedule set by New Jersey law. Will filing costs $100 for the first two pages. Each page after that costs $5 more. Certified copies of probate court records cost $5 each. These fees apply to all filings at the Bergen County Surrogate's Court.

The total cost for most estates in Bergen County runs between $100 and $200. This makes New Jersey one of the less costly states for probate. There is no need to hire a lawyer for a simple estate, though some people choose to. The Bergen County Surrogate's staff can guide you through each step of the process at no extra charge.

Bergen County Remote Probate Services

The Bergen County Surrogate's Court began offering remote probate services in 2020. This means you do not have to visit Hackensack in person to handle probate matters. You can submit documents by mail or email. The court also uses remote tools for certain steps in the process.

Remote services are helpful for people who live far from Bergen County. They also work well for those who have trouble getting to the office. You can email the probate team at bersurrprobate@bergencountynj.gov to ask about the remote process. For records requests, use bersurrrecords@bergencountynj.gov instead. Staff will walk you through what you need to send and how to send it.

Note: Even with remote services, the original will must still be sent by FedEx, UPS, or certified mail to the Bergen County Surrogate's Court.

Historical Probate Court Records in Bergen County

Bergen County has one of the oldest collections of probate court records in New Jersey. The New Jersey State Archives holds 257 reels of microfilm from the Bergen County Surrogate's Court. These cover a wide range of record types from the 1700s and 1800s.

The State Archives collection page for Bergen County records includes details on what is available.

These old records are a key source for family history and legal research in Bergen County.

The collection includes Will Books from 1804 to 1905 on 21 reels. Estate Papers span from 1783 to the 1900s on 173 reels. Orphans Court Minutes run from 1785 to 1902 on 9 reels. Dockets and Indexes cover 1785 to 1962 on 37 reels. Other holdings include Administration Bonds from 1861 to 1901, Letters of Administration from 1804 to 1900, Guardians' Bonds from 1861 to 1913, Releases and Discharges from 1821 to 1902, and Divisions of Land from 1845 to 1888. All of these are probate court records from Bergen County that you can view at the State Archives in Trenton.

For those who want to search online first, the State Archives database portal lets you look up records before making the trip. This can save time if you are not sure what Bergen County probate court records exist for the person you are looking for.

Types of Bergen County Estate Cases

The Bergen County Surrogate's Court handles more than just wills. The court deals with several types of estate and family matters. Each type creates its own set of probate court records in Bergen County.

Will probate is the most common type. This is when someone dies with a valid will. The court reviews the will and grants authority to the executor. Letters of administration apply when there is no will. The court picks an administrator based on state law. Guardianship cases involve care for a minor child or an adult who cannot care for themselves. The Bergen County Surrogate's Court also handles adoptions and will contests. Estate accountings, where the executor reports how the estate funds were spent, are filed here as well.

Each of these case types creates probate court records that the Bergen County Surrogate's Court keeps on file. You can request copies of any of these records by visiting the office, calling, or sending an email. The NJ Courts surrogates directory lists all county surrogate offices across the state if you need records from more than one county.

Probate Court Records and New Jersey Law

New Jersey probate law governs how the Bergen County Surrogate's Court operates. The main body of law is Title 3B of the New Jersey Statutes. These laws set the rules for wills, estates, trusts, and guardianships. The New Jersey Legislature website has the full text of all statutes.

The New Jersey Courts website also has forms and guides for people who need to file probate matters. Bergen County follows the same rules as every other county in the state. The Surrogate's Court in Hackensack applies these laws when it reviews wills, grants letters, and creates probate court records for Bergen County estates.

Note: Probate court records in Bergen County are generally public records, but some guardianship and adoption files may have limited access.

Municipalities in Bergen County

Bergen County has 70 municipalities. All of them file probate matters at the Bergen County Surrogate's Court in Hackensack. The courthouse serves the entire county from one location. Major towns include Hackensack, Fort Lee, Paramus, Teaneck, Englewood, Ridgewood, and Bergenfield. No matter which town you live in, probate court records for Bergen County estates are all kept at the same office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bergen County. If you are not sure which county handles your probate case, check the address where the person who died lived. You must file in the right county for the Surrogate's Court to have jurisdiction over the estate.