What to Do When Someone Dies in Gloucester County, New Jersey
Probate in Gloucester County runs through the Surrogate's Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Gloucester County, settling their estate runs through the Surrogate's Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Paper filing availableAppointment requiredSelf-filing allowed
Accepted paymentCash, Check, Credit card. Visa, Mastercard, and Discover accepted, plus check or cash. Checks payable to "The Gloucester County Surrogate." $20 returned-check fee.
Mailing: PO Box 177, Woodbury, NJ 08096. TTY/TDD: 856-232-9543. By appointment only - call 856-853-3282 to schedule (document-search appointments: 856-853-3286). Parking in rear lot near Woodbury High School. Secure drop box near rear entrance for original documents (notify office after drop-off). Deputy Surrogate: Susan M. McKenna, Esq.
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Gloucester County, probate runs through the Surrogate's Court at 17 N. Broad St., Woodbury.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under New Jersey intestacy law when there is no will.
Most New Jersey estates take 9 months to 12 months to move through this process. The 9 monthsN.J.S.A. 3B:22-4Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Gloucester County
What probate costs in Gloucester County, New Jersey comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Surrogate's Court at 17 N. Broad St., Woodbury.
Local procedures at this court that affect cost: Accepted payment methods. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
New Jersey charges $100N.J.S.A. 22A:2-30Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in New Jersey are negotiated, typically 2.4%R. 4:42-9(a)(3) (court may allow a counsel fee out of the estate in a probate action) and R. 4:42-9(b) (fee must be supported by an affidavit of services addressing the RPC 1.5(a) reasonableness factors; no statutory percentage); N.J.S.A. 3B:18-6 (attorney also serving as fiduciary)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.9%R. 4:42-9(a)(3) (court may allow a counsel fee out of the estate in a probate action) and R. 4:42-9(b) (fee must be supported by an affidavit of services addressing the RPC 1.5(a) reasonableness factors; no statutory percentage); N.J.S.A. 3B:18-6 (attorney also serving as fiduciary)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is also statutory in New Jersey. Family executors who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%N.J.S.A. 3B:15-1Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in New Jersey typically runs 9 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Surrogate's Court
Probate cases in Gloucester County are filed at the Surrogate's Court. File in person during business hours or by mail.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Surrogate's Court is realistic.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Records Access
Document-search appointments in 2-hour intervals
Document search appointments are scheduled in 2-hour intervals; call 856-853-3286 to schedule. All searchers must follow the Surrogate's public search policy.
An appointment is required to file in person. In-person business is by appointment only; call 856-853-3282 to schedule (document-search appointments use 856-853-3286 and are scheduled in 2-hour intervals). Original documents may also be mailed or left in the secure drop box near the rear entrance.
Accepted payment
Cash, Check, Credit card. Visa, Mastercard, and Discover accepted, plus check or cash. Checks payable to "The Gloucester County Surrogate." $20 returned-check fee.
What to Bring
To file at the Surrogate's Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Gloucester County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Clerk.
Deeds and other real property documents for Gloucester County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk James N. Hogan, at 1 North Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096. Phone: (856) 853-3237. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 129, Woodbury, NJ 08096.
The County Clerk charges $30 for the first page plus $10 for each additional page.
Gloucester County accepts electronic recording through Erxchange.
New Jersey uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Gloucester County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in New Jersey are based on reasonable compensation — typically 2.4%R. 4:42-9(a)(3) (court may allow a counsel fee out of the estate in a probate action) and R. 4:42-9(b) (fee must be supported by an affidavit of services addressing the RPC 1.5(a) reasonableness factors; no statutory percentage); N.J.S.A. 3B:18-6 (attorney also serving as fiduciary)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.9%R. 4:42-9(a)(3) (court may allow a counsel fee out of the estate in a probate action) and R. 4:42-9(b) (fee must be supported by an affidavit of services addressing the RPC 1.5(a) reasonableness factors; no statutory percentage); N.J.S.A. 3B:18-6 (attorney also serving as fiduciary)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Gloucester County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Surrogate's Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Bookbinder Law is a Marlton elder law and estate planning practice serving Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, and Mercer counties, founded in 1996 by Dana E. Bookbinder, a Certified Elder Law Attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation. The firm assists executors and families with probate and estate administration, special needs planning, and guardianships across South Jersey.
Flanagan Law offers customized wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and probate services throughout Southern New Jersey. Founder Brian T. Flanagan also runs a Chapter 7 bankruptcy practice, and the firm's free consultations are stated for bankruptcy matters only.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrustsWills
Office
1120 South Main Street, Suite AWilliamstown, NJ 08094
Price & Price is a father-and-son elder law and estate planning firm founded in 1973 in Haddonfield. With over 50 years of experience, the firm focuses on elder law matters and serves clients across seven South Jersey counties. Carl Ahrens Price is a Certified Elder Law Attorney and Casey Price holds a Master of Laws in Taxation.
Puff, Sierzega & MacFeeters has served Gloucester and Camden County families from Woodbury since 1978, a short walk from the Gloucester County Surrogate. Jeffrey V. Puff leads an estate group that handles estate administration and probate, will and trust disputes, executor and power-of-attorney roles, and special needs and disability planning. The firm also keeps offices in Pitman and Haddonfield.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateTrust Litigationand 3 more
Simeone & Raynor is a Cherry Hill firm in Camden County, with a second office in Medford, serving South Jersey. The firm handles estate planning, estate administration, and estate litigation, and its attorneys routinely appear in probate courts and serve as court-appointed administrators across the region.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more
Bratton Law Group focuses exclusively on elder law, estate planning, life care planning, asset protection, and Medicaid planning. The firm's attorneys and care coordinators work together to identify both legal issues and care needs for clients and their families throughout South Jersey.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax Planningand 3 more
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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Gloucester County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Gloucester County, New Jersey.
