What to do after a death in New Jersey

First steps — the first week or two

• Order certified copies of the death certificate (10 or more)The probate court, Social Security, banks, insurers, and the title company each need their own certified copy — order more than you think you need.
• Secure the homeCheck the locks, collect mail, and confirm homeowners insurance stays active. A vacant, unsecured home is a common source of loss and later disputes.
• Locate the original willCheck a safe deposit box or the deceased’s attorney, or ask the probate court whether it holds a deposited will. A copy is usually not enough to open probate — the original is generally required.
• Notify Social Security, banks, and other financial institutionsReport the death to Social Security to stop benefit payments, and notify banks, brokerages, and insurers that hold accounts or policies in the deceased’s name.
• Notify the employer, and any pension or benefits providerAsk about final pay, unused benefits, and any life-insurance or pension death benefit.
• Forward mail and keep utilities runningSet mail forwarding to a current address and keep utilities active until the home’s future is decided — a lapsed utility can complicate a sale or occupancy.

Documents to gather

• Death Certificate
• Last Will & Testament
• Letters Testamentary / Letters of Administration
• Property Deed
• Inventory Worksheet
• Trust Documents

Not every estate needs all of these — a trust, for example, only applies if one exists. Gather what exists and note what doesn't.

Does the estate need full probate?

New Jersey lets smaller estates skip full probate using the Affidavit in lieu of administration (N.J.S.A. 3B:10-3 / 3B:10-4) — the cap depends on your relationship to the person who died (up to $50,000). (N.J.S.A. 3B:10-3 ($50k surviving spouse) / 3B:10-4 ($20k other heir))

Check whether this estate qualifies

Key New Jersey probate deadlines

Lodge the will with the court

No fixed statutory deadline — varies, confirm with the probate court.

File the estate inventory

No fixed statutory deadline — varies, confirm with the probate court.

Creditor-claim period closes

9 months after the date of death (outer bar: 9 months from death)

Source — N.J.S.A. 3B:22-4 (9-mo creditor protection from death); 3B:3-22 (10-day minimum before probate)

Compute the exact dates from a date of death

Where to file

Probate is filed in the county where the person who died last lived. Local forms, e-filing rules, and scheduling vary by county — confirm with that county’s probate court.

Find your court — NJ Courts — Directorieshttps://www.njcourts.gov/public/directories

Later — closing the estate, in order

1. 1.Pay valid creditor claimsOnce the creditor-claim window closes, pay allowed claims in the statutory priority order. Do not distribute to heirs before valid claims and administration expenses are satisfied.
2. 2.Settle taxes & obtain any tax waiversFile and pay any state death tax and the federal/estate income returns above. Some states require a tax waiver or clearance before estate assets can be transferred — obtain it first.
3. 3.Prepare the estate accountingPrepare an accounting of every estate receipt, disbursement, and proposed distribution for the court and the beneficiaries to review.
4. 4.Distribute the remaining assetsAfter claims, expenses, and taxes are settled, distribute what remains to the heirs or beneficiaries under the will (or the state’s intestacy rules).
5. 5.Close the estate & discharge the representativeClose the estate by filing a final account and obtaining an order discharging you as personal representative. The exact closing instrument varies by state — confirm the local form.

Good to know in New Jersey

New Jersey inheritance tax applies to transfers to non–Class-A beneficiaries (siblings, friends, etc.); spouses, children, and parents are exempt. Waivers are needed to release certain assets. NJ repealed its estate tax for deaths after Jan 1, 2018.