Somerset County Probate Records

Somerset County probate court records are held at the Surrogate's Court in Somerville. The county was formed on May 14, 1688, from parts of Middlesex County. It is one of the oldest counties in New Jersey. Probate court records in Somerset County cover wills, letters of administration, and guardianship filings for all towns in the county. The Surrogate's office on Grove Street serves the entire county. You can search for probate court records in Somerset County by phone or in person during business hours.

Somerset County Surrogate Court Office

The Somerset County Surrogate is Bernice M. Jalloh. Her office manages all probate court records for the county. Staff can help you file a will for probate, request copies of estate documents, or look up older case files. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The office serves every municipality in Somerset County, including Franklin Township and the borough of Somerville.

Somerset County was formed from Middlesex County in 1688, making it one of the oldest counties in the state. The county seat moved to Somerville in 1784. Probate court records in Somerset County date back to 1785 for most document types, though the county itself is older. The gap is due to early records being kept at the provincial level or lost over time. Today the Surrogate's office holds all modern probate court records and can direct you to the State Archives for older files from Somerset County.

How to Search Somerset County Probate Court Records

There are a few ways to search for probate court records in Somerset County. The Surrogate's Court keeps indexes and dockets for all estate cases. You can search by the name of the person who died, the date of death, or the case number. Staff at the office on Grove Street can run these searches for you in person or by phone. The office handles both recent and older probate court records for Somerset County.

For records that date back to the 1700s and 1800s, the New Jersey State Archives is the best source. They hold microfilm copies of Somerset County probate court records going back to 1785. You can view the records in person at the State Archives in Trenton or request copies by mail. The State Archives database portal lets you search some indexes online before you visit.

Note: Somerset County was formed in 1688, but most surviving probate court records begin in 1785.

Somerset County Probate Filing Process

Filing for probate in Somerset County follows New Jersey state law. 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. Once those 10 days pass, bring the original will and a certified death certificate to the Surrogate's Court on Grove Street in Somerville. The court reviews the will under N.J.S.A. 3B:3-19 and, if everything checks out, issues letters testamentary to the executor. This filing becomes part of the probate court records in Somerset County.

When someone dies without a will, a family member can file for letters of administration under N.J.S.A. 3B:10-1. The Somerset County Surrogate follows N.J.S.A. 3B:10-3 and N.J.S.A. 3B:10-4 to set the order of priority for who gets the appointment. The spouse has first priority. Children come next. Then other family members in the order set by law. Smaller estates may qualify for a shorter process that costs less and takes fewer steps in Somerset County.

You will need these items to file probate court records in Somerset County:

• The original will, if one exists
• A certified death certificate with a raised seal
• Names and addresses of beneficiaries and next of kin
• Two forms of identification
• Proof of address

The staff at the Somerset County Surrogate's Court can guide you through each step. Most filings take less than an hour.

Historical Probate Court Records in Somerset County

The New Jersey State Archives holds a deep collection of older probate court records from Somerset County. These records span nearly two centuries and cover many document types. Researchers and genealogists use these files to trace estates and family lines across Somerset County.

The State Archives collection page for Somerset County lists every record set available on microfilm.

These microfilm holdings are the main source for old probate court records from Somerset County.

The collection includes Will Books from 1785 to 1922, Orphans Court Minutes from 1785 to 1902, and Administration Bonds from 1861 to 1902. Letters of Administration cover 1804 to 1900. Guardian Bonds span 1861 to 1904. Divisions of land and property run from 1808 to 1878. Dockets cover 1785 to 1969. All of these are probate court records from Somerset County that you can access at the State Archives in Trenton. The docket records, which run up to 1969, are one of the longer series in the collection and cover nearly two full centuries of estate activity in Somerset County.

Types of Somerset County Estate Cases

The Somerset County Surrogate's Court handles several types of cases. Will probate is the most common type. This is when someone dies with a valid will and the court 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 the care of a minor child whose parents have died or can no longer serve. Each of these case types produces probate court records that the Somerset County Surrogate's Court keeps on file.

Estate accountings are also part of the process. The executor or administrator must report how estate funds were used. These reports become part of the probate court records for that case in Somerset County. Division records deal with how land and property are split among heirs. The State Archives holds division records from 1808 to 1878 for Somerset County, showing how this process worked in earlier times.

Note: All probate court records filed in Somerset County are generally open to the public, though some guardianship files may have restricted access.

New Jersey Probate Statutes

Probate court records in Somerset County are governed by Title 3B of the New Jersey Statutes. These laws set the rules for wills, estates, and guardianships across the state. 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. These apply to every probate filing in Somerset County and all other New Jersey counties.

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 Somerset County Surrogate follows these rules when issuing letters of administration. The New Jersey Legislature website has the full text of all statutes. The New Jersey Courts website also provides forms and guides for people who need to handle probate matters.

Somerset County Probate Court Records Access

Probate court records in Somerset County are generally public. Anyone can request to view them. You do not have to be a party to the case. The Surrogate's office can tell you what is available for any given case. Copies of probate court records can be picked up in person at the Administration Building on Grove Street in Somerville.

You can also request copies by phone or mail. Call the office at (908) 231-7003 to ask about current fees and what forms of payment they accept. Certified copies cost more than plain copies but may be needed for legal matters such as transferring property or closing bank accounts tied to an estate in Somerset County.

Cities in Somerset County

Somerset County has 21 municipalities. All of them file probate court records through the Somerset County Surrogate's Court in Somerville. Below are city pages with more details on local records.

Other towns in Somerset County include Bridgewater, Hillsborough, Warren, Watchung, and Bound Brook. All probate court records for these areas go through the Surrogate's office in Somerville.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Somerset County. If you need probate court records from before 1688, check Middlesex County. Records for the area that became Somerset County may have been filed there before the split.