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Until 1804, all wills were sent to the registrar of the prerogative court to be recorded. Since 1804, copies of all probates have been recorded at the office of the county surrogate. The original wills, administrations, accounts, and inventories have been sent to the secretary of state (more recently, the superior court) in Trenton. | Until 1804, all wills were sent to the registrar of the prerogative court to be recorded. Since 1804, copies of all probates have been recorded at the office of the county surrogate. The original wills, administrations, accounts, and inventories have been sent to the secretary of state (more recently, the superior court) in Trenton. | ||
The | The FamilySearch Library has microfilm copies of most state probate records from 1665 through 1900 and most county probate records through the early 1900s. The state archives has microfilm copies and the originals of all records formerly held by the secretary of state, 1670 to 1901, as well as microfilms of many pre-1901 county probate records. The county surrogate's court offices generally have orphans' court records from 1785 to the present, surrogates' court records from 1804 to the present, and some earlier records. | ||
=== State Statutes === | === State Statutes === | ||
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Most estates probated before 1901 are indexed in: | Most estates probated before 1901 are indexed in: | ||
*''Index of Wills, Inventories, Etc. in the Office of the Secretary of State Prior to 1901'', 3 vols., 1912. Reprinted as New Jersey Index of Wills. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969. ( | *''Index of Wills, Inventories, Etc. in the Office of the Secretary of State Prior to 1901'', 3 vols., 1912. Reprinted as New Jersey Index of Wills. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969. (FamilySearch Library {{FSC|974.9 P22s 1969|disp=book 974.9 P22s 1969; film 545437; fiche 6051315}}.) The index is arranged county-by-county and begins in 1705 (except Salem County which is indexed from 1679). Most entries give probate file numbers referring to county probate records. These files are now at the state archives and are on microfilm at the FamilySearch Library under NEW JERSEY, [COUNTY] - PROBATE RECORDS. | ||
Some of the other references in this index are to: | Some of the other references in this index are to: | ||
*East Jersey wills, administrations, and guardianships, 1715 to 1785 ( | *East Jersey wills, administrations, and guardianships, 1715 to 1785 (FamilySearch Library {{FSC|140248|title-id|disp=films 522735-40}}) | ||
*West Jersey wills, administrations, and guardianships, 1705 to 1804 ( | *West Jersey wills, administrations, and guardianships, 1705 to 1804 (FamilySearch Library {{FSC|140248|title-id|disp=films 522714-34}}) | ||
*Unrecorded wills and inventories, 1673 to 1747 ( | *Unrecorded wills and inventories, 1673 to 1747 (FamilySearch Library {{FSC|29680|title-id|disp=films 545494-96, 2293540 and 522712-13}}) | ||
*Prerogative court wills, 1786 to 1905. These books are at the state archives and contain recorded copies of probates. (FS Library films beginning with {{FSC|216340|title-id|disp=522741}}.) | *Prerogative court wills, 1786 to 1905. These books are at the state archives and contain recorded copies of probates. (FS Library films beginning with {{FSC|216340|title-id|disp=522741}}.) | ||
*Prerogative court unrecorded wills, 1823 to 1900. These are at the state archives and some are on | *Prerogative court unrecorded wills, 1823 to 1900. These are at the state archives and some are on FamilySearch Library {{FSC|110709|title-id|disp=films 1022898-901 and 1032122 item 2}}. There are a few wills 1901-1906 and one for Peter Lorillard, 1924-1925, on film 1022901. | ||
==== Index of Wills ==== | ==== Index of Wills ==== | ||
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''Index of Wills, Office of Secretary of State, State of New Jersey, 1705 to 1804 and Index of Wills, Office of Secretary of State, State of New Jersey, 1804 to 1830''. Trenton, New Jersey: John L. Murphy Publishing, 1901. (FS Library book {{FSC|974.9 P22|disp=974.9 S2ns}}, Volumes 1-2; {{FSC|246434|title-id|disp=film 1425613, items 1-2;}} fiche [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/462913 6045832-33].) No circulation of these microfiche to Family History Centers. | ''Index of Wills, Office of Secretary of State, State of New Jersey, 1705 to 1804 and Index of Wills, Office of Secretary of State, State of New Jersey, 1804 to 1830''. Trenton, New Jersey: John L. Murphy Publishing, 1901. (FS Library book {{FSC|974.9 P22|disp=974.9 S2ns}}, Volumes 1-2; {{FSC|246434|title-id|disp=film 1425613, items 1-2;}} fiche [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/462913 6045832-33].) No circulation of these microfiche to Family History Centers. | ||
The | The FamilySearch Library has microfilm copies of recorded wills and indexes for all counties from 1804 to the early 1900s.<br> | ||
The records for most counties at the | The records for most counties at the FamilySearch Library also include applications for probate, partition and divisions of land, applications for administration, administration bonds, inventories, letters of administration, receipts, letters of guardianship, guardianship bonds, orphan court minutes, dockets, accounts, and other recorded probate documents. | ||
==== County Estate Files ==== | ==== County Estate Files ==== | ||
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All surrogate's offices have unrecorded estate files (the original loose papers). They are valuable because they contain petitions and "partitions and divisions of estates" which list the names of heirs, their residences, and their relationships to the deceased. All known heirs are listed — even if the person died intestate. Estates filed since 1946 usually have a copy of the death certificate as well. | All surrogate's offices have unrecorded estate files (the original loose papers). They are valuable because they contain petitions and "partitions and divisions of estates" which list the names of heirs, their residences, and their relationships to the deceased. All known heirs are listed — even if the person died intestate. Estates filed since 1946 usually have a copy of the death certificate as well. | ||
Many more New Jersey residents are listed in the estate files than are named in the will books. These estate files are at the offices of the county surrogates and were not transferred to the secretary of state. They are on microfilm at the | Many more New Jersey residents are listed in the estate files than are named in the will books. These estate files are at the offices of the county surrogates and were not transferred to the secretary of state. They are on microfilm at the FamilySearch Library for Bergen, Camden, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties from as early as 1784 to the early 1900s. The state archives has microfilm copies of estate files for several counties, including Middlesex and Somerset. | ||
==== County Surrogate's Court Indexes ==== | ==== County Surrogate's Court Indexes ==== | ||
Most county probate records, both recorded and unrecorded, are indexed by general estate or surrogate's indexes. These are on microfilm at the | Most county probate records, both recorded and unrecorded, are indexed by general estate or surrogate's indexes. These are on microfilm at the FamilySearch Library for the period from 1804 to about 1970. | ||
==== Obtaining Copies of County Probate Records ==== | ==== Obtaining Copies of County Probate Records ==== | ||
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