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Named as Executor
What an executor actually does: getting appointed, notifying creditors, paying debts and taxes, and where personal liability starts.
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Death of a Parent
A step-by-step guide to what happens after a parent dies: the documents to find, the certificates to order, and whether probate is even required.
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Loss of a Spouse
What a surviving spouse needs to do: death certificates, survivor benefits, whether probate is even required, and the tax election that expires.
Learn moreForms for Settling an Estate in New Jersey
Free forms for settling an estate in New Jersey: probate petition, small estate affidavit, creditor notice and closing forms. Prepare each form for New Jersey.
Small Estate Affidavit
In New Jersey, the Affidavit of Surviving Spouse or Next of KinN.J.S.A. 3B:10-3Verified Sep 8, 2026View source covers estates valued at $20,000N.J.S.A. 3B:10-3Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less, filed with the court.
Estate Inventory
New Jersey does not require a routine inventoryN.J.S.A. 3B:16-2, 3B:16-3, 3B:16-6Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Estate Closing
In New Jersey, the personal representative is discharged automatically once the statutory period runsN.J.S.A. 3B:17-1, 3B:17-8, 3B:15-23Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and no final accounting is required.
IRS Form 1310
Claim a refund due a deceased taxpayer on the official form, on the box the form routes you to, with what the form says to attach.
Letter of Instruction
Prepare the letter a bank or insurer requests during estate settlement, addressed to its claims department.
Tools for Settling an Estate in New Jersey
Free tools for settling an estate in New Jersey: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool.
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
New Jersey sets executor compensation by statute — about $20,500 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 4.1%N.J.S.A. 3B:18-14Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
Can I Self-File Probate?
New Jersey has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not availableN.J.S.A. 3B:3-17, 3B:3-19; 2B:14-1 (Surrogate is the Judge and Clerk of the Surrogate's Court — no non-judicial/registrar track)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
How Do I Get Letters Testamentary?
In New Jersey, the County Surrogate issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration once the County Surrogate's Court appoints the personal representative; every appointment goes through the courtN.J.S.A. 3B:3-17, 3B:3-19; 2B:14-1 (Surrogate is the Judge and Clerk of the Surrogate's Court — no non-judicial/registrar track)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In New Jersey, the 9 monthsN.J.S.A. 3B:22-4Verified Sep 8, 2026View source period after the date of death protects a representative who distributes after it; late claims can still reach undistributed assets.
What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent?
When an estate owes more than it holds, New Jersey pays the claims in 7N.J.S.A. 3B:22-2Verified Oct 18, 2026View source classes in statutory order, beginning with reasonable funeral expenses.
How Do I Claim a Deceased Person's Unclaimed Property?
In New Jersey, a deceased owner's unclaimed property is claimed from the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Unclaimed Property AdministrationN.J.S.A. 46:30B (Uniform Unclaimed Property Act)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
How Do I Open an Estate Account When Someone Dies?
Compare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.
Hire a New Jersey Probate Attorney
Browse 75 probate firms in New Jersey with addresses, contact info, and practice details.
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New Jersey Estate Settlement Resources
In-depth guides covering New Jersey probate, estate administration, and settling an estate.