Surrogate's Court Records
Warren County Surrogate's Court
413 Second Street
Belvidere, NJ 07823
Telephone: 908/475-6223
About the Surrogate's Court
In New Jersey, the Surrogate's function has its beginnings in the
earliest part of our colonial history. Since so much of our country's
most fundamental legal offices can find their origins in the laws and
practices of England, it is not surprising to know that the office of
Surrogate can be traced back to when the Church of England had the duty
of probating wills. When the Bishops were busy and needed assistance in
handling the estates, they would appoint Surrogates to take their place.
The word "Surrogate" is taken from the Latin word "Subregare," which
means substitute.
When East and West New Jersey were combined in 1720, the Governor
appointed the first Surrogate covering the entire colony of New Jersey.
From 1720 through 1767, the colony was serviced by a number of Deputy
Surrogates appointed by the Surrogate. In 1822, the laws in New Jersey
were amended, granting the state legislature the power to appoint the
County Surrogate. However, in 1844, the New Jersey Constitution
prescribed that the Surrogate was to be an elected, independent
constitutional officer in the county, no longer to be regarded as a
deputy of the Governor or the appointee of the legislature. The
Constitution of 1844 provided that the Surrogate was to be elected for a
five-year term by the people of that county.
The British Governor of the colony of New Jersey had the responsibility
for probating all wills and establishing the administration of all
estates in the colony. In 1683 and 1698, statutes were enacted which
required wills and letters of administration to be entered in the
colony's public register. By the year 1693, the Governor of the colony
of New Jersey had appointed the first "Surrogate" for East New Jersey as
the Governor's appointed deputy. In 1713, wills were required to be
proved and entered in one book of records and registered.
Today, by virtue of laws enacted since 1844, the responsibilities of the
County Surrogate have been expanded. The Warren County Surrogate now has
two major functions:
1. As Judge and Clerk of the County Surrogate's Court, the Surrogate
is responsible for settling the estate of every county resident who dies
individually owning any assets in New Jersey--whether or not that
resident dies leaving a will. Therefore, the Surrogate reviews and
probates wills and appoints Executors, Administrators and guardians of
minors. In addition, the Surrogate administers and invests monies
primarily for minor children who receive judgments in the courts in
Warren County; and
2. As Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate
Part, the Surrogate dockets, reviews and schedules all actions
pertaining to will contests, estate matters, accountings, mental
incompetencies, guardianships of incompetents and all adoptions
occurring in Warren County. Permanent records of all wills and other
estate administration papers (1804-present) are filed in the Warren
County Surrogate Court on microfiche. The records of the Surrogate Court
are used by title searchers, genealogists and the public.
Note: For records prior to the formation of Warren County in 1825,
you will need to check the records of the Sussex County Surrogate's
Court for the period of 1804-1824. For estate records prior to this
date, researchers will need to consult the New Jersey Secretary of State
records for estates 1680s-1900.
Source: The above text is adapted from informational pamphlets and
websites of County Surrogate's Courts.
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Listing of Most Commonly Used Warren County Surrogate's Court Records |
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| Record Type | Description/Comments/Notes | FHL Film Number |
| General Indexes: | Index to probate records A-K 1825-1956 Index to probate records L-U 1825-1956 Index to probate records V-Z 1825-1956 Note: Post-1956 indices are available in the Surrogate's Court record room. |
960,384 960,385 960,386 |
| Will Books: | Wills, Volume 1: 1825-1840 Wills, Volumes 2-3: 1840-1864 Wills, Volumes 4-5: 1864-1879 Wills, Volumes 6-7: 1879-1889 Wills, Volume 8: 1889-1892 Wills, Volumes 9-10: 1892-1899 Wills, Volume 11: 1899-1901 Note: Post-1901 will volumes are available in the Surrogate's Court record room. |
960,387 960,388 960,389 960,390 960,391 960,392 960,393 |
| Petitions (Requests & Renunciations) for Probate/Administrations: |
Petitions, Volume 1: 1871 - 1883 Surname Index: A - G H - P Q - Z Petitions, Volume 2: 1883 - May 1890 Surname Index: A - H G - P R - Z Petitions, Volume 3: May 1890 - December 1920 Surname Index: A - H G - P R - Z Note: Post-1921 Application for Probate volumes are available in the Surrogate's Court record room. |
960,394 960,395 |
| Estate Inventories: | Inventories, Volumes 1-3: 1825-1842 Inventories, Volumes 4-5: 1842-1852 Inventories, Volumes 6-7: 1852-1862 Inventories, Volumes 8-9: 1862-1870 Inventories, Volume 10: 1870-1874 Inventories, Volumes 11-12: 1874-1882 Inventories, Volumes 13-14: 1882-1888 Inventories, Volumes 15-16: 1888-1894 Inventories, Volumes 17-18: 1894-1901 Note: Post-1901 Estate Inventory volumes are available in the Surrogate's Court record room. |
960,396 960,397 960,398 960,399 960,400 960,401 960,402 960,403 960,404 |
| Administrations: Bonds, Letters, Applications |
Administrators & Guardians bonds, v. 1-2 1861-1875 Administrators & Guardians bonds, v. 3 1876-1886 Administrators & Guardians bonds, v. 4-5 1881-1922 Administrators & Guardians bonds, v. 6 1895-1924 Note: Post-1924 Administrator's & Guardian's Bonds volumes are available in the Surrogate's Court record room. Letters of administration, v. 1-2 1825-1870 Letters of administration, v. 3-4 1870-1911 Note: Post-1911 Letters of Administration volumes are available in the Surrogate's Court record room. Application (Complaint) for Administration Note: Warren County Application (Complaint) for Administrations are grouped together with the Application (Complaint) for Probate entries. See above section. Post-1921 volumes are available in the Surrogate's Court record room. |
960,976 960,977 960,978 960,979 960,980 960,981 See above Petitions #960,394 |
| Miscellaneous Records: |
Assignees Volumes 1-2: 1865-1922 Guardians inventories & accounts, Volumes 1-2: 1850-1905 Receipts & discharges, Volumes 1-3: 1825-1867 Receipts & discharges, Volumes 4-5: 1867-1879 Receipts & discharges, Volumes 6-7: 1879-1894 Receipts & discharges, Volumes 8-9: 1890-1898 Receipts & discharges, Volume 10: 1898-1903 Note: Additional miscellaneous volumes are available in the Surrogate's Court record room. |
960,415 960,416 960,982 960,983 960,984 960,985 960,986 |