Hudson County Probate Files

Hudson County probate court records are kept at the Surrogate's Office in Jersey City, New Jersey. The office stores wills, estate files, guardianship papers, and letters of administration for all of Hudson County. Records begin in 1840 when the county was formed from Bergen County. You can search for probate court records by visiting the Jersey City office or by using state archive collections. The Hudson County Surrogate's Office serves residents across all towns in the county. This guide explains how to find and obtain probate court records in Hudson County.

Hudson County Surrogate's Office

The Hudson County Surrogate's Office manages all probate court records for the county. Tilo E. Rivas serves as Surrogate. The office is in the William J. Brennan Courthouse at 583 Newark Avenue, First Floor, in Jersey City. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff can help you file new cases or search for old records.

Hudson County was formed on February 22, 1840 from Bergen County. The Surrogate's Office has kept probate court records since that date. The office handles the probate of wills, the issuance of letters of administration, guardianship cases, and estate accountings. It serves residents of Jersey City, Bayonne, Union City, Hoboken, North Bergen, West New York, and all other towns in the county. All of these tasks create records that become part of the Hudson County probate court system.

The following image shows the Hudson County Surrogate's Office page on the county government website.

This page has contact details and basic filing information for Hudson County probate court records.

How to Search Hudson County Probate Court Records

To search for probate court records in Hudson County, call the Surrogate's Office at (201) 795-6378. Staff can look up records by name and date of death. You can also visit the office at the Brennan Courthouse in Jersey City. Bring the full name of the person whose estate you need. A date of death helps narrow results fast.

Staff will check the index and pull the file for you. You can view wills, letters of administration, and other probate court records on site. Copies are available for a fee. The office keeps records from 1840 to the present. For the oldest records, the New Jersey State Archives is the best resource. Their collection of Hudson County records spans 342 reels of microfilm.

The NJ State Archives searchable database lets you search some Hudson County probate court records online. You do not need to travel to Trenton. The database is free and covers records across all New Jersey counties.

Hudson County Records Before 1840

Hudson County did not exist before February 22, 1840. It was carved from Bergen County. If the person you are looking for died before that date, their probate court records are in Bergen County. The Bergen County Surrogate's Office in Hackensack holds those earlier files. The State Archives also has Bergen County records on microfilm that cover the period before Hudson County was formed.

This is a common point of confusion for researchers. If your search in Hudson County turns up nothing for a death before 1840, check Bergen County next. All probate court records for the area that is now Hudson County were filed in Bergen County until the split.

Note: For any death before February 22, 1840, search Bergen County probate court records instead of Hudson County.

Probate Process in Hudson County

When a person dies in Hudson County, their estate goes through probate at the Surrogate's Office. Under N.J.S.A. 3B:3-22, there is a 10-day wait after death before a will can be probated. Once that time passes, the executor named in the will brings the paperwork to the Jersey City office. Under N.J.S.A. 3B:3-19, the Surrogate has the authority to admit the will to probate in Hudson County.

If there is no will, the estate is intestate. A family member can apply for Letters of Administration under N.J.S.A. 3B:10-1. The Surrogate's Office reviews the application and issues letters that give the administrator the legal right to manage the estate. This includes collecting assets, paying debts, and distributing the remainder to heirs. All of these steps create probate court records that are filed in Hudson County.

Small estates in Hudson County may qualify for a shorter process. Under N.J.S.A. 3B:10-3 and N.J.S.A. 3B:10-4, estates valued at $50,000 or less in personal property can use a small estate affidavit. This avoids the full probate process. The Surrogate's Office can tell you if an estate qualifies for this option.

Hudson County Probate Records at State Archives

The New Jersey State Archives holds a large collection of Hudson County probate court records on microfilm. The collection spans 342 reels. This is one of the bigger county holdings at the archives. Researchers, genealogists, and family members use these records to trace estates and family lines going back to 1840.

The State Archives catalog for Hudson County Surrogate records lists the full holdings. Will Books cover 1840 to 1901 on 31 reels. Estate Papers span 1840 to 1900 on 201 reels. Dockets run from 1804 to 1953 on 43 reels. Orphans Court minutes cover 1840 to 1902 on 17 reels. Administration Bonds span 1862 to 1900 on 15 reels. Receipts and Discharges cover 1849 to 1899 on 8 reels. Administrator and Executor Accounts span 1870 to 1901 on 8 reels. Applications for Letters cover 1875 to 1900 on 6 reels. Letters of Administration span 1840 to 1900 on 5 reels. Letters of Guardianship cover 1868 to 1900 on 3 reels. Guardian Bonds run from 1867 to 1903. These are key probate court records for Hudson County research.

The following image shows the State Archives catalog page for Hudson County surrogate records.

This catalog page lists every record set by date range and reel count for Hudson County probate court records.

Types of Hudson County Probate Court Records

The Surrogate's Office in Hudson County keeps many types of probate court records. Each type plays a role in the estate process. Some records are filed at the start of probate. Others are added as the estate is settled. All become part of the permanent file in Hudson County.

Wills show how a person wanted their assets split. Letters testamentary give the executor the right to act for the estate. Letters of administration serve the same role when there is no will. Guardianship records deal with the care of minors. Orphans Court minutes cover cases that involved children and estates. Dockets serve as an index to all probate court records in Hudson County. Estate Papers hold the full case files, including petitions, bonds, inventories, and accountings. All of these records are kept by the Hudson County Surrogate's Office.

• Last wills and testaments
• Letters testamentary and letters of administration
• Guardianship bonds, orders, and letters of guardianship
• Orphans Court minutes and orders
• Estate papers, inventories, and accountings
• Dockets and indexes

Hudson County Clerk and Court Resources

The Hudson County Clerk's Office handles land records that may connect to probate matters. When an estate includes real property in Hudson County, the deed transfer is filed with the Clerk. If you are tracing land that passed through an estate, you may need records from both the Surrogate and the Clerk.

The image below shows the Hudson County Clerk's website, where you can find land record search tools.

Land records from the Clerk's Office often tie to probate court records in Hudson County, especially when real estate was part of an estate.

The New Jersey Courts website has forms, guides, and contact details for all county courts. The New Jersey Legislature website has the full text of probate statutes that apply in Hudson County. Both are useful resources when filing or researching probate court records.

Note: The Hudson County Clerk's Office and the Surrogate's Office are both in Jersey City, making it easy to visit both in one trip.

Historical Probate Records in Hudson County

Hudson County probate court records are a rich source for genealogical research. The county's records start in 1840. Wills from the mid-1800s list family members, property, and personal items. They name children, spouses, and sometimes friends or neighbors. Administration records show who took charge of an estate when there was no will. These documents help build family trees and trace land in Hudson County.

The 201 reels of Estate Papers at the State Archives are the largest part of the Hudson County collection. They cover 1840 to 1900 and hold the full case files. Dockets from 1804 to 1953 span 43 reels. These predate the county itself because some docket books came from Bergen County when Hudson was formed. Dockets list cases by name and date, which makes them a useful starting point for any search. Orphans Court minutes from 1840 to 1902 cover cases that dealt with minors, estates, and land divisions.

Will Books from 1840 to 1901 hold copies of all wills probated in Hudson County during that time. These 31 reels are heavily used by researchers. Administration Bonds from 1862 to 1900 show who posted bond to serve as administrator. Letters of Guardianship from 1868 to 1900 document who was named to care for children and manage their property. All of these are part of the Hudson County probate court records at the State Archives.

Cities and Towns in Hudson County

Hudson County has many cities and towns. All of them file probate court records through the Surrogate's Office in Jersey City. No matter which town you live in, the Hudson County Surrogate handles your estate matters.

Major communities include Jersey City, Bayonne, Union City, Hoboken, North Bergen Township, and West New York. All probate court records for these places are filed with the Hudson County Surrogate's Office in Jersey City.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Hudson County. If you are not sure which county handles a probate case, check where the person lived at the time of death. The estate is probated in the county of residence. Each county has its own Surrogate's Office for probate court records.