Surrogate Court

Surrogate County Updates:

Please be advised the Camden County Surrogate Court has moved.  Our new address is 509 Lakeland Road, Blackwood, New Jersey 08012.  Please use this address for any mail, UPS and/or Fed Ex deliveries. Effective Monday, July 6, 2020 we will have a drop box located at 509 Lakeland Road, Blackwood for anyone who does not wish to mail original documents.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking clients by appointment only.  Kindly schedule your appointment by visiting the County’s Online Scheduling Portal.  If you do not wish to appear in person, we will still be processing all Surrogate Court business via mail and our drop box.  If you have any questions or wish to make an appointment, please feel free to contact us at our main number (856) 225-7282. 

Any emergent matters can be directed to Deputy Surrogate, Cheryl Nidorf Austin, via email Cheryl.Austin@camdencounty.com. 

The Surrogate Court was established by the New Jersey Constitution. It is governed by state statutes as the court in each county responsible for certain statutory and assigned duties and functions related to wills, guardianships of minors and incapacitated people. The office has its origins in English law, where the bishop of the region would appoint a substitute, or “surrogate”, to handle certain affairs. Eventually, this authority evolved from church officials to civil officials.

The functions of the Surrogate Court include probate of wills, administration, guardianships, trusts, adoptions, management/investment of minors’ funds, records, and wedding services. For more information about these services, click here.

The Surrogate Court also produces a monthly email newsletter with important information about a wide-variety of topics. To subscribe, please click here.