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
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 |