Quick answer: New Jersey probate is filed with the county Surrogate's Court, and the fee to open the estate is modest — typically $100 to $200, set under Title 22A (§ 22A:2-30), plus small per-page and certified-copy charges. It's a minor cost next to the statutory executor commission and, for non-exempt beneficiaries, the inheritance tax.
How New Jersey surrogate fees work
Probate opens at the Surrogate's Court in the county where the person lived — Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Hudson and the state's 21 counties. The Surrogate, sitting as Judge of the Surrogate's Court, admits the will and issues Letters Testamentary (or Letters of Administration when there's no will). The base fee covers opening the estate; additional charges apply per page and per certified document.
| Surrogate cost | Typical figure |
|---|---|
| Probate of will & qualification | ~$100–$200 |
| Additional pages of the will | Small per-page fee |
| Certified Letters (short certificates) | A few dollars each; several usually needed |
| Additional executor / administrator | Small extra qualification fee |
Fees are set under Title 22A and are broadly similar across the 21 county Surrogates; confirm the current schedule with your county Surrogate's Office before filing.
Other costs to plan for
- Bond — administrators are generally required to post a surety bond; testamentary executors are usually exempt unless the will requires one (N.J.S.A. 3B:15-1).
- Inheritance-tax filing — for Class C/D beneficiaries, Form IT-R is filed with the NJ Division of Taxation (the tax itself, 11–16%, is the real cost).
- No newspaper publication is generally required to open probate — NJ uses direct notice to heirs and next of kin.
The real costs are the commission and inheritance tax
The surrogate fee is small next to the statutory executor commission ($20,500 on a $500,000 estate) and, for a sibling or friend, the inheritance tax (11–16%). See the whole picture in the New Jersey probate cost breakdown, learn about attorney fees, or estimate your total with the New Jersey probate cost calculator.