What to Do When Someone Dies in Mercer County, New Jersey
Probate in Mercer 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 Mercer 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
Mercer County
Address
Mercer County Civil Court House, 175 South Broad Street, Fourth Floor, Room 420Trenton, NJ 08608
Secretary to the Surrogate / General Information609-989-6336
Mailing: P.O. Box 8068, Trenton, NJ 08650-0068; FedEx/UPS/USPS deliveries go to the physical office at 175 South Broad Street, 4th Floor, Room 420, Trenton, NJ 08608. Hours 8:30 AM-4:30 PM; appear no later than 4:00 PM. Designated parking at Broad St. and Livingston St., diagonally across from the Civil Courthouse (large green sign).
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 Mercer County, probate runs through the Surrogate's Court at Mercer County Civil Court House, 175 South Broad Street, Fourth Floor, Room 420, Trenton.
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 Mercer County
What probate costs in Mercer 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 Mercer County Civil Court House, 175 South Broad Street, Fourth Floor, Room 420, Trenton.
Probate matters are handled through Special Deputy Surrogate (Court Matters, Formal Accountings, Contested Probate, Incapacitated-Persons Guardianships), Deputy Surrogate (Probate Procedures, Adoption, Guardianships, Accountings), Minors' Funds, and Secretary to the Surrogate / General Information. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
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 Mercer County are filed at the Surrogate's Court. File in person during business hours or by mail.
Filings here are routed through Special Deputy Surrogate (Court Matters, Formal Accountings, Contested Probate, Incapacitated-Persons Guardianships), Deputy Surrogate (Probate Procedures, Adoption, Guardianships, Accountings), Minors' Funds, and Secretary to the Surrogate / General Information. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.
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.
Check. Probate fees payable by check to "Mercer County Surrogate." Other payment methods are not documented on the official site.
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 Mercer 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 Mercer County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello, at 209 South Broad Street, Trenton, NJ 08608. Phone: (609) 989-6465. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM; Wednesday until 6:45 PM.
The County Clerk charges $30 for the first page plus $10 for each additional page.
Mercer County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Mercer County · County Clerk · Paula Sollami Covello
New Jersey uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Mercer 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 Mercer 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.
Mason, Griffin & Pierson has been a Princeton community firm since 1955, serving Mercer County. Its Estates & Trusts group handles probate, estate and trust administration, and estate, gift, GST, and New Jersey inheritance tax matters, advising fiduciaries and beneficiaries and preparing wills, powers of attorney, and advance directives.
Augulis Law Firm works from Warren in Somerset County and serves Somerset, Middlesex, Union, Hunterdon and Morris families. The practice covers trust administration, Medicaid and elder law, special needs planning, and asset protection for family-owned businesses, alongside wills, trusts, and incapacity documents. Estate planning consultations are free.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawSpecial Needs Planningand 2 more
Giuditta Law Firm provides estate planning and probate services to families in Union County and throughout New Jersey. Founding attorney Nicholas A. Giuditta III brings 30 years of experience and co-chairs the Union County Bar Association Elder Law Committee.
Founded in 1978, Hill Wallack is a Princeton firm serving Mercer County and central New Jersey. Its Trusts & Estates attorneys handle probate, collection of assets, payment of estate liabilities, estate tax returns, and distribution, guiding executors and trustees through estate administration alongside will and trust drafting.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateCharitable PlanningWealth Transfer
Norris McLaughlin specializes in Estate Planning and Administration & Wealth Preservation with a 15-attorney practice group, serving clients throughout North and Central Jersey.
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.
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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Mercer County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Mercer County, New Jersey.
