Cape May County Probate Court Records

Cape May County probate court records are managed by the Surrogate's office in Cape May Court House, New Jersey. This is one of the oldest counties in the state, formed in 1692 as an original West Jersey county. The county seat is Cape May Court House. The Surrogate handles wills, estates, guardianships, adoptions, and all other probate court records for Cape May County. Searching these records begins at the Surrogate's office, which keeps files going back many years. You can visit, call, or write to start a search for any probate court record in Cape May County.

Cape May County Surrogate Court Office

The Cape May County Surrogate is E. Marie Hayes. The office is at 4 Moore Road, DN 207, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210. You can reach the staff by phone at (609) 463-6666. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Surrogate handles probate court records for all of Cape May County.

The Cape May County Surrogate's office processes wills, letters of administration, guardianship petitions, and adoption filings. When a person dies with a will, the executor brings it to this office to start probate. When there is no will, a family member can apply for letters of administration. Both types of filings become part of the probate court records in Cape May County. The Surrogate keeps these on file and can provide copies on request.

Visit the Cape May County Surrogate page for forms, guides, and more details about the office.

Note: The Cape May County Surrogate's office is open on weekdays only. Plan your visit within the 8:30 to 4:30 window.

Cape May County Probate Records Online

The Cape May County government website has a page for the Surrogate's office. It lists forms, contact info, and basic steps for filing probate court records. This is a helpful place to start before you call or visit.

Below is a view of the Cape May County Surrogate's official page.

The site has links to forms you may need when filing probate court records in Cape May County.

Cape May County Clerk and Probate Records

The Cape May County Clerk's office also plays a role in the probate process. The Clerk handles deeds, property transfers, and other land records that often come up during estate settlement. When a person dies and owns real estate in Cape May County, the executor or administrator may need to file new deeds with the Clerk after probate is done.

Below is a view of the Cape May County Clerk's page.

The Clerk and the Surrogate work in the same county complex, which makes it easy to handle both probate court records and property filings in one trip.

Note: The County Clerk does not handle will filings. Bring wills to the Surrogate's office for probate in Cape May County.

Historical Probate Court Records for Cape May County

The New Jersey State Archives holds a large collection of older probate court records from Cape May County. Because the county dates back to 1692, these records span more than three centuries. The oldest surviving will books start in 1804, while Orphans Court minutes go back to 1786.

The full list of Cape May County probate court records at the State Archives includes Will Books from 1804 to 1970, Orphans Court Minutes from 1786 to 1905, Orphans Court Dockets from 1786 to 1913, Administration Books from 1804 to 1911, Bonds from 1804 to 1901, Divisions of Land from 1802 to 1924, and Guardians' Inventories from 1832 to 1857. These records are a rich source for genealogists and family researchers looking into Cape May County estates.

The State Archives database portal lets you search indexes for some of these records online. Not every volume is digitized, but the index can tell you what exists before you visit in person.

How to Search Cape May Probate Court Records

For recent probate court records, call the Cape May County Surrogate at (609) 463-6666. Give the staff the name of the deceased person. They can look up the file and tell you what is on record. You can then request copies by mail or pick them up in person.

For older records, use the State Archives. Their holdings for Cape May County go back to the 1780s. You can search their online database first. If you find what you need in the index, you can plan a visit to Trenton to view the full documents. The State Archives reading room is open to the public.

The New Jersey Courts website also has forms and guides that apply to probate court records in every county, including Cape May.

New Jersey Probate Statutes

Cape May County probate court records follow the same state laws that apply across New Jersey. The key statutes include N.J.S.A. 3B:3-22, which sets the rules for how a will must be signed and witnessed. N.J.S.A. 3B:3-19 covers who has the legal ability to make a will in New Jersey.

When a person dies without a will in Cape May County, the Surrogate issues letters of administration under N.J.S.A. 3B:10-1. Sections 3B:10-3 and 3B:10-4 decide who gets first right to serve as the administrator. A surviving spouse has top priority. Adult children come next. The Cape May County Surrogate follows this order when appointing an administrator, and the filing becomes part of the probate court records.

Guardianship Filings in Cape May County

The Cape May County Surrogate also handles guardianship of minors. When a parent dies or is unable to care for a child, a family member can file for guardianship through the Surrogate's office. This creates a probate court record in Cape May County. The process starts with a petition. The court then reviews the case and may hold a hearing.

Guardianship records are part of the broader set of probate court records in Cape May County. They are kept at the Surrogate's office along with wills and estate files. If you need a copy of a guardianship order, contact the Surrogate at (609) 463-6666.

Note: Guardianship of adults with disabilities is handled by the Superior Court, not the Surrogate, in Cape May County.

Cape May County Communities

Cape May County has many towns and boroughs. All probate court records for these places are filed through the Cape May County Surrogate's office in Cape May Court House. The county includes Cape May City, Wildwood, Ocean City, Avalon, Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor, and many other communities. There are no city-level pages for Cape May County at this time.

Nearby Counties

Cape May County sits at the southern tip of New Jersey. If you need probate court records from a neighboring county, these are the closest options.