Guest Speaker: Atlantic County Surrogate Jim Curcio

About the Surrogate’s Court

The Surrogate’s Court is a Department of County Government as well as a branch of the Superior Court of New Jersey, in the Chancery Division. The Surrogate is a Constitutional Officer who is elected to the position every five years. The Surrogate serves as Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part as well as Judge of the Surrogate’s Court.

Surrogate is a historic title carried forward from colonial times. A “Surrogate” is one who “takes the place of another.” The County Surrogate actually takes the place of the Governor, who received authority from the Archbishop of London in 1710 to probate wills, issue marriage licenses and perform functions that were the province of the Church.

Today, the main function of the Surrogate is to probate wills and appoint administrators of estates. Additionally, as Clerk of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Probate Part, the Surrogate reviews and files actions for contested estates, adoptions, declaration of death, appointment of guardian for incapacitated persons, trustees and conservators, and formal accountings. The Surrogate’s Court also invests and maintains minor’s trust funds.

Records of all wills and other estate administration documents are filed in the Surrogate court. The records of the Surrogate Court are available for inspection by title searchers, genealogists and the public.

Phone Numbers

Forms and Instructions

• Surrogate Information Sheet (Updated 11/1/23)
• The Duties of Executor/Administrator
• Refunding Bond and Release
• Sample Will

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