Short answer
Bring the original will and a certified copy of the death certificate. New Jersey county Surrogates say probate and letters come only after the 11th day following the death. Expect to list the people named in the will and the next of kin. Letters are what let an executor deal with a house.
The two documents every Surrogate asks for
Camden County's Surrogate says the applicant must have an original will and a death certificate. Morris County's guide is more specific: it asks for an original death certificate with a raised seal, plus the names and addresses of the people named in the will and of all next of kin. A photocopy of the will is not enough, because the Surrogate keeps the original. If you cannot find the original, tell the Surrogate's office before you do anything else, because that changes the process and an estate attorney should be involved.
The 11th-day rule
You can bring a will to the Surrogate at any time after a death. Camden County says probate and the issuance of letters happen only after the 11th day after death. So a family that shows up on day three to start a house sale will be told to come back. Use the first ten days for the funeral, for locating papers and for ordering several certified death certificates, since banks, the Division of Taxation and the title company may each want one.
Self-proving wills move faster
Morris County explains that a self-proving will can be probated in a very short time. If the will is not self-proving, one of the witnesses has to come to the Surrogate's office or present proof of their signature. That can slow things down if a witness has moved away or died. Ask the attorney who drafted the will, if there was one, whether it contains the sworn statement that makes it self-proving.
What happens after probate and before a sale
Once the will is probated, Morris County says the executor must notify the heirs and the beneficiaries named in the will within 60 days, and send proof to the Surrogate's Court. For a house, there is another gate. The Division of Taxation's executor guide says real estate transfers always require Form 0-1, a waiver only the Division can issue. So the sale timeline is letters first, then the waiver, then the closing. Ask an estate attorney to map the dates for your family.
Selling the house without listing it
Some executors list the house with an agent and wait for a retail buyer. That can bring a higher price when the property is in good condition, and it is a fair choice. Others want to avoid repairs, showings and commission. Kaizen Home Buyers makes cash offers on New Jersey houses as-is, with no repairs and no agent commission. We can give an offer within 24 hours and close in 14 to 30 days, or on the date the estate prefers. The deed still has to be signed by the person with letters. Call 267-329-0084.