Probate Fee Schedule

Probate Fee Schedule 

PROBATE OF WILLS AND COPIES

• PROBATE: $100.00
• Probate of a will of not more than two pages.
• Each additional page - $5.00
• Probate of each codicil, not exceeding one page, $25.00.
• Where codicil requires an additional witness, $5.00.
• To reopen probate proceedings for qualification of executor or taking proof of extra witness, $25.00.
• One witness in the above probate proceedings, no charge.
• Each additional witness, $5.00.
• Recording and comparing, microfilming or photostating, each additional page of will or codicil, $5.00.
• Filing, entering, issuing and recording, microfilming or photostating, proceedings in
  commission for deposition of foreign witness to a will or codicil, $35.00. Plain extra
  copy of will, $3.00 for each page.
• Certified copy of will with proofs for New Jersey county, not exceeding two pages including will and codicil, $50.00. For pages in excess of two, $5.00 for each page.
• Wills filed but not probated (as, where there are no asset), $10.00 for first two pages, $5.00 for each additional page, $5.00 for cover letter stating no assets, $5.00 for
  death certificate.
• Exemplifying will for another state, not exceeding two pages including will and codicil, plus cost of certificate of Secretary of State when requisite, $75.00 (not including $9.00 fee for exemplified forms). For pages in excess of two, $5.00 for
  each page.
• Recording, microfilming or photostating, docketing, indexing, filing and reporting to the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury an exemplified copy of will and probate proceedings from another state, $5.00 for each page.
• Recording, microfilming or photostating, docketing, indexing and filing a certified copy of will with proofs from New Jersey, $5.00 for each page.
• Recording, microfilming or photostating certified transcripts of wills admitted to probate and probate proceedings or letters of administration and administration proceedings granted by the Superior Court, $5.00 for each page.

LETTERS OF TRUSTEESHIP

• Acceptance of trustee and letters of trusteeship, including one certificate, $50.00.

LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATIONGeneral administration, including preparation and execution of complaint, bond, surety affidavits, necessary recording, microfilming or photostating, indexing, filing, report to the Division of Taxation, including power of attorney and death certificate, in the Department of the Treasury and the Clerk of the Superior Court and original letters including authorization to accept service of process and death certificate, $125.00, and for other documents, $5.00 per page.

• Administration ad prosequendum $50.00, and for other documents, $5.00 per page.
• Exemplifying administration, $75.00.
• Certified copy of administration, $50.00.

Affidavits of surviving spouse or next of kin where the value of the real and personal assets of the estate does not exceed $20,000.00 or $10,000.00, respectively, (when less than $100.00, $5.00) for each $100.00 or part thereof, (in excess of $100.00). Total cost shall not exceed $50.00. This fee is waived where the value of the assets of the estate does not exceed $200.00.

LETTERS OF GUARDIANSHIP

• Granting letters of guardianship, acceptance of guardianship and filing of power of attorney, $50.00.
• Affidavits of estates of minors where value of real and personal estate does not exceed $5,000.00, $5.00 per page.
• Miscellaneous petitions and orders, $5.00 per page.

INVENTORIES

• For all services in appointment of appraisers, $25.00.
• Filing, entering and recording, microfilming or photostating, inventory and appraisement, not exceeding one page, and affidavits of appraisers and executor, $25.00.
• For each additional page, $5.00.

ACCOUNTINGFor filing complaint and one page of accounting, $175.00.
For auditing, stating, reporting and recording, microfilming or photostating, accounts of executors, administrators, guardians, trustees and assignees, including drawing judgment, but exclusive of advertising costs:

• In estates up to and including $2,000.00, no additional fee.
• In estates from $2,001.00 to and including $10,000.00, $100.00.
• In estates from $10,001.00 to and including $30,000.00, $125.00.
• In estates from $30,001.00 to and including $65,000.00, $150.00.
• In estates from $65,001.00 to and including $200,000.00, 3/10 of 1% but not less than
  $300.00.
• In estates exceeding $200,000.00, 4/10 of 1%, but not less than $400.00.
• For each page of accounting in excess of one, $5.00.
• In computing the amount of an estate for the purpose of fixing the fees of a surrogate for auditing and reporting the account, the balance from the prior account shall be excluded.
• No fees herein shall be charged against the recipient of any pension, bounty or allowance, for services of the surrogate and the Probate Part of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court in respect thereof, pursuant to N.J.S.3B:13-14.

MISCELLANEOUS PROCEEDINGS

• Proceedings relative to presumption of death, filing, entering and recording, microfilming or photostating (exclusive of letters), with additional fee for advertising, $175.00.
• Sale of land to pay debts (exclusive of advertising), $175.00.
• Sale of land in fulfillment of contract made by decedent, $175.00.
• Sale of lands within one year, $175.00.
• Sale of minor's land, $175.00.
• Distribution, filing and entering complaint, recording, microfilming or photostating, and filing judgment, $175.00.
• Filing of first paper in action in the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part, $175.00.
• Filing of answering pleadings or other answering papers in Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part (First paper filed by anyone other than Plaintiff), $110.00.
• Adoption of adults, filing and entering proceedings (all papers) including one judgment, $175.00.
• Adoption of minors (with one hearing), filing and entering proceedings (all papers) including one judgment, $175.00.
• Adoption of minors with two or more hearings, filing and entering proceedings (all papers) including one judgment, $75.00.
• Application and order to limit time to creditors, $60.00, but exclusive of advertising costs. * includes the following fees.
• Application for relief subsequent to final judgment in the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part, $25.00.

Notice to Creditors: NO LONGER PROCESSED BY SURROGATE'S OFFICE.
Please contact the newspaper of your choice directly for filing.

• Proceedings for the appointment of a conservator, with or without jury trail, $175.00.
• Proceeding for the determination of incapacity and for the appointment of a guardian for an alleged incapacitated person, with or without jury trial, $200.00.
• Proceedings in connection with payment into court of a proceeds of a judgment in favor of a minor, in lieu of bond, pursuant to N.J.S.3B:15-16 ( in addition to fees payable under Letters of Guardianship), the following fees are payable upon withdrawal of funds on deposit:
• For each withdrawal including petitions and orders provided and prepared by the surrogate for withdrawal of funds for court approval:
• Up to and including $500.00, $20.00.
• From $501.00 to and including $1,000.00, $25.00.
• From $1,001.00 to and including $5,000.00, $30.00.
• From $5,001.00 to and including $10,000.00, $35.00.
• From $10,001.00 to and including $25,000.00, $40.00.
• From $25,001,00 to and including $50,000.00, $60.00.
• In excess of $50,000.00, $100.00.

MISCELLANEOUS CHARGES

• Short certificates $5.00.
• Validating short certificate with one year of issue date, $3.00.
• Subpoenas, each, $25.00.
• Marking true copies, subpoenas, each $3.00.
• Marking true copies, orders to show cause, each, $3.00.
• Marking true copies of other papers, each $3.00.
• Authorization of process, $5.00.
• Swearing each witness, $2.00.
• Adjournment or continuance, $15.00.
• Miscellaneous orders of court, first page, $5.00.
• For each additional page, $5.00.
• Recording, microfilming or photostating all papers not herein provided for, $5.00
  for each page.
• For making copies not otherwise provided, $3.00 for each page.
• Filing transcript of death certificate, $5.00.
• Power of attorney, per page $5.00 plus $5.00 for certified mail.
• Search fee, per estate $10.00.
• Proceedings relative to appointment of a guardian ad litem, $25.00.
• Renunciation by one person, filing, entering and recording, or photostating, $5.00.
  Each additional person, $3.00.
• Caveat, filing or withdrawing, $25.00.
• Combined refunding bond and release of not more than two pages, filing, entering, microfilming and recording, or photostating, $10.00. For more than two pages, $5.00 for each additional page. Additional charge for county clerk's certificate, $5.00.
• Release of not more than two pages of refunding bond and release, $10.00. For more than two pages, $5.00 for each additional page. Additional charge for county clerk's certificate, $5.00.
• Assignments of legacy or interest, $10.00 per page, plus $5.00 where county clerk's certificate is necessary.
• Filing all papers not herein provided for $5.00, if microfilming process is used, $5.00 per page.
• Plain copy of two-page wills, $10.00
• Each additional page, $5.00.
• Filing of motions in the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part, $15.00.
• Notice of appeal (trial court), $10.00.
• Minimum charge for all other papers or services in proceedings in the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part, $5.00.
• 3B:14-48 Service of Process by Surrogate, $25.00.
• Duplicating or copying of microfiche, digital tape, high density disks, optically scanned and recorded materials or for any other media used to record or preserve records, $150.00 per medium recorded.
• Processing fee for returned check, $20.00 plus bank fee.

source http://www.co.middlesex.nj.us/surrogate/fees.asp