Provides assistance on all matters affecting estates, guardianships and similar probate matters, New Jersey laws, rules of the court and case law involved in this area.
Atlantic County Civil Court House
1201 Bacharach Blvd.
Atlatnic City
New Jersey
08401
United States
+1 (609) 343-2341
+1 (609) 343-2197
Mays Landing Criminal Court House
5911 Main Street
Mays Landing
New Jersey
08330
United States
+1 (609) 645-5800
+1 (609) 645-5805

Surrogate's Office

Atlantic County Government

Surrogate's Office

Welcome to the Atlantic County Surrogate’s Court.  We have two offices to serve you:

5911 Main Street
Mays Landing NJ 08330
(609) 645-5800

1201 Bacharach Blvd. 2nd Floor
Atlantic City NJ 08401
(609) 343-2341

Starting August 14, 2023 until September 30, 2023, appointments will be required for the
Atlantic City Surrogate’s Office, located at 1201 Bacharach Blvd, 2nd Floor, Atlantic City.
Please call for an appointment to be seen in the Atlantic City office, using either phone number listed.

Emergent Matters: (609) 705-2572

Hours:  Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:00pm  *appointments are encouraged

James Curcio, Surrogate/Judge
James Curcio, Surrogate/Judge

About the Surrogate’s Court

The Surrogate’s Court is a Department of County Government as well as a branch of the Superior Court of New Jersey, in the Chancery Division.  The Surrogate is a Constitutional Officer who is elected to the position every five years.  The Surrogate serves as Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part as well as Judge of the Surrogate’s Court.

Surrogate is a historic title carried forward from colonial times.   A “Surrogate” is one who “takes the place of another.”  The County Surrogate actually takes the place of the Governor, who received authority from the Archbishop of London in 1710 to probate wills, issue marriage licenses and perform functions that were the province of the Church.

Today, the main function of the Surrogate is to probate wills and appoint administrators of estates.    Additionally, as Clerk of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Probate Part, the Surrogate reviews and files actions for contested estates, adoptions, declaration of death, appointment of guardian for incapacitated persons, trustees and conservators, and formal accountings.  The Surrogate’s Court also invests and maintains minor’s trust funds.

Records of all wills and other estate administration documents are filed in the Surrogate court.   The records of the Surrogate Court are available for inspection by title searchers, genealogists and the public. 

Phone Numbers

Surrogate’s Office – Mays Landing  (609) 645-5800
Surrogate’s  Atlantic City  Office (609) 343-2341
Fax    Mays Landing  (609) 645-5805
Fax    Atlantic City                                                 (609) 343-2197
Atlantic County Bar Association
(for attorney referral)
(609) 344-3444
South Jersey Legal Services (609) 348-4200
NJ Inheritance Tax Office (609) 292-5033
Social Security Administration in Trenton NJ               (609) 292-6500
Social Security Office in Pleasantville NJ                    1-800-772-1213
NJ Division of Vital Statistics (to obtain DC)               (609) 292-4087
Atlantic County Clerk’s Office                                    (609) 641-7867
Atlantic County Intergenerational Services (609) 645-5962  x4741
Atlantic County Aging Services (609) 645-7700

 

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