What to Do When Someone Dies in Hudson County, New Jersey
Probate in Hudson 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 Hudson 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.
Probate Court Record
Surrogate's Court
Hudson County
Address
Hudson County Administration Building, 595 Newark Avenue, 4th Floor, Room 407Jersey City, NJ 07306
Paper filing availableAppointment requiredSelf-filing allowed
By appointment only. Pro se complaint packets available on website for self-represented litigants. Bilingual English/Spanish staff ("contamos con personal bilingüe inglés y español").
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 Hudson County, probate runs through the Surrogate's Court at Hudson County Administration Building, 595 Newark Avenue, 4th Floor, Room 407, Jersey City.
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 Hudson County
What probate costs in Hudson 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 Hudson County Administration Building, 595 Newark Avenue, 4th Floor, Room 407, Jersey City.
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 Hudson 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.
Before You File
10-day probate waiting period
Probate cannot be completed until the day following the tenth day after death. The named executor must bring the original will to the Surrogate's Court by the tenth day after death.
Original will, certified death certificate, and valid photo ID of the executor. All heirs and beneficiaries must be identified with full names and addresses.
An appointment is required to file in person. Office operates by appointment only; submit an appointment request online or call 201-795-6378. The named executor must bring the original will to the Surrogate by the tenth day after death.
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 Hudson 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 Register of Deeds and Mortgages.
Deeds and other real property documents for Hudson County are recorded with the Register of Deeds and Mortgages, led by County Register Jeffrey Dublin, at 257 Cornelison Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07302. Phone: (201) 395-4760. Hours: Cashier's window: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM.
The Register of Deeds and Mortgages charges $30 for the first page plus $10 for each additional page.
Hudson County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
Register of Deeds and Mortgages
Hudson County · County Register · Jeffrey Dublin
Address
257 Cornelison Avenue, 2nd FloorJersey City, NJ 07302
New Jersey uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Hudson 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 Hudson 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.
Bogart Keane Ryan serves Hudson County executors and beneficiaries from Jersey City, filing through the Hudson County Surrogate's Court. The firm guides executors through probate, asset transfer, estate valuation, and estate tax payment, and litigates will contests to challenge or defend a will when beneficiaries dispute it. It also handles living trusts and guardianships.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more
Carolann M. Aschoff is a long-established Jersey City practice serving Hudson County, filing through the Hudson County Surrogate's Court in Jersey City. The office handles probate and estate administration for executors and drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and guardianships.
Freeman Law Center serves Hudson County from Jersey City, filing through the Hudson County Surrogate's Court in Jersey City. The firm handles probate, will drafting, and will-contest litigation for executors and beneficiaries, along with living wills and powers of attorney. It offers free initial consultations, available weekdays, evenings, or weekends.
The Law Office of Frank Marciano serves Hudson County families from Hoboken, filing through the Hudson County Surrogate's Court in Jersey City. The practice handles probate of estates after death and intestate succession where there is no will, and drafts last wills, living wills, and living trusts structured to avoid probate.
Rose & Zucker serves Hudson County from Bayonne, filing through the Hudson County Surrogate at 595 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, with a second office in Summit for Union and Essex County clients. The firm walks executors and successor trustees through probate and estate administration and pairs it with Medicaid applications, asset protection, and special needs planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 3 more
A Jersey City-based firm serving Hudson County with a focus on estate planning, probate, and trust law. They create customized estate plans including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives.
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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Hudson County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Hudson County, New Jersey.
