Salem County Probate Records
Salem County probate court records are held at the Surrogate's Court in the city of Salem. Formed in 1694 as one of the original West Jersey counties, Salem has some of the oldest probate court records in the state. The Surrogate's office manages wills, estate papers, guardianship filings, and administration cases for every town in the county. Appointments are now required for estate matters. You can search probate court records in Salem County by calling the office or visiting in person once you have a scheduled time.
Salem County Quick Facts
Salem County Surrogate Court Office
The Salem County Surrogate is Dr. Gordon J. Ostrum Jr. His office handles all probate court records for the county. Staff can help you file a will for probate, apply for letters of administration, or request copies of estate documents. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. All in-person visits for estate matters require an appointment. Call extension 8323 to schedule your visit before you go to the Salem County courthouse.
The Surrogate's office is at 92 Market Street, Suite A122, in Salem, NJ 08079. An alternate entrance is at 94 Market Street on the second floor. You can reach the office by phone at (856) 935-7510, extension 8323. Email is also an option for basic questions. Send messages to surrogate@salemcountynj.gov. The staff will guide you through the steps for any probate court record you need to file or look up in Salem County.
The Salem County Surrogate's official website lists forms, hours, and contact details.
The site is a good first step when you need to file or search for probate court records in Salem County.
| Court |
Salem County Surrogate's Court 92 Market Street, Suite A122 Salem, NJ 08079 Phone: (856) 935-7510 x8323 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| surrogate@salemcountynj.gov | |
| Website | surrogate.salemcountynj.gov |
Note: Appointments are required for all estate matters at the Salem County Surrogate's Court. Call extension 8323 to schedule.
How to Search Salem County Probate Court Records
To search for probate court records in Salem County, start by calling the Surrogate's office. Give them the name of the person whose estate you are looking for. Staff can check their files and tell you what records exist. Salem County has probate court records going back to 1694, which makes it one of the oldest collections in New Jersey. The oldest files may be on microfilm at the State Archives rather than at the county office itself.
The Salem County Clerk's office may also hold records that connect to probate matters. Deeds, property transfers, and liens are often tied to estate settlements. If you need both estate documents and property records for a case in Salem County, you may want to check with both offices.
For online research, the New Jersey Courts website has general court forms and guides. The New Jersey Legislature website has the full text of all probate statutes that apply in Salem County.
Salem County Probate Filing Process
Filing for probate in Salem County follows the same state laws that apply across New Jersey. 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. Once those 10 days pass, you can bring the will and other papers to the Surrogate's Court. The court reviews the will under N.J.S.A. 3B:3-19 and issues letters testamentary to the named executor if all is in order.
If someone dies without a will, a family member can apply for letters of administration under N.J.S.A. 3B:10-1. The Salem County Surrogate follows N.J.S.A. 3B:10-3 and N.J.S.A. 3B:10-4 to decide who gets the appointment. The spouse has first priority. Next come children. Then other family members in the order set by law. Each filing creates probate court records that the Salem County Surrogate keeps on file.
You will need these items to file in Salem County:
- The original will, if one exists
- A certified death certificate
- Names and addresses of beneficiaries and next of kin
- Two forms of identification
Remember to call (856) 935-7510 x8323 first. You must have an appointment to file probate court records in Salem County.
Historical Probate Court Records in Salem County
Salem County has one of the deepest collections of probate court records in New Jersey. The county dates to 1694, and some estate records go back almost that far. The New Jersey State Archives holds a large set of older probate court records from Salem County on microfilm. These are vital for genealogy and legal research.
The State Archives collection page for Salem County shows every record set that is available.
These old records are a core resource for tracing estate history in Salem County.
The microfilm holdings include Will Books from 1803 to 1830 and a second set from 1804 to 1922. Orphans Court Minutes cover 1802 to 1908. Administration Bonds span 1804 to 1901. Letters of Administration run from 1804 to 1900. Guardian Bonds cover 1804 to 1913. Divisions of land and property run from 1791 to 1935. Docket Files are held for 1748 to 1804 and 1824 to 1845. Applications cover 1883 to 1900 and 1908. These probate court records from Salem County can be viewed at the State Archives in Trenton or requested by mail.
Note: The Docket Files from 1748 to 1804 are among the oldest probate court records in Salem County and in all of New Jersey.
Types of Salem County Estate Cases
The Salem County Surrogate's Court handles several types of cases. Will probate is the most common. This is when someone dies with a valid will and the court reviews it. Letters of administration apply when there is no will. Guardianship cases involve the care of a minor child. Each type creates its own set of probate court records in Salem County.
Estate accountings are another part of the process. The executor or administrator must report how estate funds were spent. These reports are filed with the Salem County Surrogate's Court and become part of the probate court records for that case. Division records, which deal with splitting land and property among heirs, are also on file. Salem County has division records going back to 1791, based on the State Archives holdings.
Salem County Probate and Clerk Records
The Salem County Clerk's office holds records that often tie into probate matters. Deeds filed after an estate settlement show how property passed from the deceased to the heirs. Liens and judgments may also appear in connection with an estate case. If you are tracing a full estate history in Salem County, checking both the Surrogate's records and the Clerk's records gives you a more complete picture.
The Salem County Clerk's website has details on land records, vital records, and other filings that may connect to probate court records in the county.
New Jersey Probate Statutes
Probate court records in Salem County are governed by Title 3B of the New Jersey Statutes. N.J.S.A. 3B:3-22 covers the execution of wills. N.J.S.A. 3B:3-19 sets rules for who can make a will. For estates where no will exists, N.J.S.A. 3B:10-1 controls who may serve as administrator. Sections 3B:10-3 and 3B:10-4 set the order of priority for that appointment. The Salem County Surrogate follows these rules when handling all probate filings.
The New Jersey Legislature website has the full text of these statutes. You can look up any section of Title 3B to understand how probate law works in Salem County and across the state.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Salem County. If you are not sure which county handles a 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.