County of Warren, NJ - Surrogate's Office

Kevin O'Neill, Surrogate


	Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. ~ 4:30 p.m. Appointments: In order to serve you efficiently, it is suggested that you call for an appointment. Call: Tel. 908-475-6223 Tel. 908-319-2218 (after hours) Fax 908-475-6319 Location: Warren County Courthouse 413 Second Street Belvidere, NJ 07823

New Jersey Probate, Trusts, Wills, & Estates Law


Questions and Answers About Estates
Why everyone should make a will Everyone owns property - real or personal - and has an estate. When no will exists, real and personal property is not distributed according to the decedent's wishes. Rather, it is distributed according to the statues of New Jersey. A will saves your heirs time and money, and you can plan the orderly transfer of your property. You decide to whom, when and in what amounts your assets should be distributed. You select the executor who is responsible for the payment of your debts and disposition of your estate. A will saves can be prepared by an attorney who specializes in will drafting or estate planning and who can guide you to the best decisions after obtaining facts only you can give.		You don't need to itemize your assets, nor do you need to state disposition by item. It is not mandatory to make bequests only to family members. Friends or charities may also be beneficiaries of an estate. A will does not affect your ability to sell or dispose of property. A will must be written, signed by the testator and witnessed by a least two persons. The original copy is the legal document and must be signed. Keep your will in a safe place, but let the executor know where it can be found. Keep your will current with changes in your life such as marriage, birth of a child, death of a beneficiary. You can change your will at anytime by having a codicil prepared. Do not change your will by marking it in any way. Marking your will could destroy it as a legal document and may require a court hearing to probate the will.