County surrogate's office issues step-by-step guide to probate, guardianship and adoption procedures

A recorded guide produced by the county surrogate's office outlines what people need to open probate, start an administration for intestacy, pursue small-estate (affidavit) relief, and begin guardianship or adoption proceedings.

The presentation, delivered by the county surrogate in a recorded video, lays out three types of probate estates: standard probate when a decedent left a last will and testament; administration (intestate) when there is no will; and an affidavit or small-intestate estate for lower-value estates. The video gives specific dollar thresholds for small estates: $50,000 when the decedent left a surviving spouse, and $20,000 when the applicant is anyone other than a surviving spouse.

The surrogate lists the documents required to open a probate or administration case: the original last will and testament (if one exists); an original death certificate with a raised seal that lists the county of residence; and the names and addresses of the decedent's next of kin (spouse and children, or if none, parents and siblings). Executors or administrators must present government-issued photo identification such as a valid driver's license or passport.

For estates that include vehicles, the presenter instructs applicants to provide the vehicle identification number (VIN), make and model, and a book value for the vehicle. Applicants are told to provide the most current asset statements available.

The recording specifies filing fees: a starting probate fee of $100 covering the first two pages of a will and $5 for each additional page, payable to the surrogate court by cash, check or money order, and notes additional fees for extra certificates if necessary. For administration (intestate) filings the video states a starting fee of $125 payable by the same methods.

The guide repeatedly urges applicants to confirm that the decedent's county of residence matches the county listed on the death certificate and to contact the surrogate's office for details specific to their case. The recorded presentation closes with contact information given in the video: a phone number (9738814760), an email address (surrogateinfo at Payountenj.org in the transcript) and a street address listed as 71 Hamilton Street, first floor, Patterson, New Jersey 07505.

The recorded speaker identifies herself in the transcript as the county surrogate and expresses hope that viewers "found this general information video about the surrogate court probate process helpful." The transcript contains inconsistent spellings of the county and of the surrogate judge's name (see audit notes); the article reports the procedural requirements and fees exactly as stated in the recording and cites the contact details provided at the close of the video.

For case-specific questions, the surrogate's office directs applicants to call or email the surrogate's court using the contact information provided in the recording.