Surrogates' Judiciary Records Request Form

There are all sorts of forms executors, beneficiaries, and probate court clerks have to fill out and correspond with during probate and estate settlement, including affidavits, letters, petitions, summons, orders, and notices.

Surrogates' Judiciary Records Request Form is a commonly used form within New Jersey. Here’s an overview of what the form is and means, including a breakdown of the situations when (or why) you may need to use it:

Atticus Fast Facts About Surrogates' Judiciary Records Request Form

Sometimes it’s tough to find a quick summary— here’s the important details you should know about Surrogates' Judiciary Records Request Form:

• This form pertains to the State of New Jersey

Government forms are not typically updated often, though when they are, it often happens rather quietly. While Atticus works hard to keep this information about New Jersey’s Form 10964 - Surrogates' Judiciary Records Request Form up to date, certain details can change from time-to-time with little or no communication.

Step 1 - Download the correct New Jersey form based on the name and ID if applicable

Double check that you have both the correct form name and the correct form ID. Some New Jersey probate forms can look remarkably similar, so it’s best to double, even triple-check that you’re using the right one! Keep in mind that not all States have a standardized Form ID system for their probate forms.

Step 2 - Complete the Document

Fill out all relevant fields in Form 10964, take a break, and then review. Probate and estate settlement processes in NJ are long enough to begin with, and making a silly error can push your timeline even farther back. No thank you!

Note: If you don’t currently know all of the answers and are accessing Form 10964 online, be sure to avoid closing the browser tab and potentially losing all your progress (or use a platform like Atticus to help avoid making mistakes).

Step 3 - Have Form 10964 witnessed or notarized (if required)

Some States and situations require particular forms to be notarized. If you have been instructed to get the document notarized or see it in writing on the document, then make sure to hire a local notary. There are max notary fees in the United States that are defined and set by local law. Take a look at our full guide to notary fees to make sure you aren’t overpaying or getting ripped off.

Step 4 - Submit Surrogates' Judiciary Records Request Form to the relevant office

This is most often the local probate court where the decedent (person who passed away) is domiciled (permanently resides) or the institution involved with this particular form (e.g. a bank). Some offices allow you to submit forms online, other’s don’t, and we while we generally recommend going in-person to expedite the process, sometimes that simply isn’t an option.

It’s also a generally good idea to establish a positive working relationship with any probate clerk (unfortunately there’s enough people & process out there making things more difficult and unnecessarily confusing for them), so a best practice is to simply ask the probate clerk proactively exactly how and where they’d prefer you to submit all forms.

Need help getting in touch with a local probate court or identifying a domicile probate jurisdiction?

👉 Find and Contact your Local Probate Court

👉 What is a Domicile Jurisdiction?

Sponsored by Atticus App

Need help with New Jersey Probate?

Join all the other families who have trusted Atticus through probate, and experience the peace that comes from knowing you're taking the right steps, spending the least amount of money, and not wasting a single second.

Start for free

Different probate forms or processes can require different deadlines or response times for completing the appropriate form.

While some steps in the process are bound to specific deadlines (like petitioning for probate, having to submit an inventory of assets, or filing applicable notices to creditors and beneficiaries), many probate forms or processes are not tied to a specific deadline since the scope of work can vary based on situational factors or requirements involved.

Either way, there are a bunch of practical reasons why personal representatives should work to complete each step as thoroughly and quickly as possible when completing probate in New Jersey.

5 reasons you should submit 10964 as quickly as possible:

1. The sooner you begin, the faster New Jersey can allow heirs and beneficiaries to get their share of assets subject to probate. Acting promptly can also decrease the costs & overall mental fatigue through an otherwise burdensome process.
   
   Helpful Context: What’s the Difference Between Probate and Non-Probate Assets?

2. In general, creditors of an estate usually have around 3-6 months from the time you file notice to creditors to file any claims for debt against the deceased’s assets. If they don’t, then that debt is forfeited (and more importantly, the executor won’t be held personally responsible). So doing this sooner means you have a better idea of who is owed what and ensures you won’t get a surprise collector months later.

3. Not filing a will within 30 days (on average) could mean that the probate process proceeds according to intestate laws (laws that govern what happens to someone's stuff without a will) or is subject to unnecessary supervision by the probate court. And if you aren't directly related to the deceased (a.k.a. next of kin), this could also mean you lose your inheritance.

4. It’s important to file any necessary state tax returns on behalf of the deceased or estate by the following tax season in New Jersey. If you don’t, you could owe penalties and interest. This also includes any necessary federal tax returns such as Forms 1040, 1041, or even a Form 706 estate tax return.

5. If a house in the State of New Jersey is left empty (or abandoned) for a while, insurance can get dicey. For example, if the house burns down and no one has been there for a year, an insurance company may get out of paying your claim.

If you’re not using Atticus to get specific forms, deadlines, and timelines for New Jersey probate, then try and stay as organized as possible, pay close attention to the dates mentioned in any correspondence you have with the State’s government officials, call the local New Jersey probate clerk or court for exact answers regarding Form 10964, and when in doubt— consult a qualified trust & estates lawyer for that area.

Surrogates' Judiciary Records Request Form is one of the many probate court forms available for download through Atticus.

It may also be available through some New Jersey probate court sites, such as . In order to access the latest version, be updated with any revisions, and get full instructions on how to complete each form, check out the Atticus Probate & Estate Settlement software or consider hiring a qualified legal expert locally within New Jersey.

While Atticus automatically provides the latest forms, be sure to choose the correct version of Form 10964 - Surrogates' Judiciary Records Request Form f using any other site or resource in order to avoid having to re-complete the form process and/or make another trip to the New Jersey probate court office.

Surrogates' Judiciary Records Request Form is a .pdf, so opening it should be as simple as clicking “View Form” from within the Atticus app or by clicking the appropriate link found on any New Jersey-provided government platform. Once you’ve opened the form, you should be able to directly edit the form before saving or printing.

Here’s the text, verbatim, that is found on New Jersey Form 10964 - Surrogates' Judiciary Records Request Form. You can use this to get an idea of the context of the form and what type of information is needed.

Records Request Form PART A: Requestor Information NEW JERSEY JUDICIARY LAST NAME See instructions on the reverse side. FIRST NAME COMPANY ADDRESS CITYEMAIL ZIP STATE DAYTIME TELEPHONE (INCLUDE AREA CODE) US MAIL PICK UP PREFERRED DELIVERY EXT. ON SITE INSPECT PART B: Payment Information SIGNATURE DATE CASHMONEY ORDER CHECK SELECT PAYMENT METHOD FEES [as provided in N.J.S.A. 22A:2-30] Search of Index $ 10 each search Copies $ 3 per page Copies of tape, disks, microfi che or other non-paper medium $150 per medium PART C: Information Requested INDIVIDUAL CASE INFORMATIONDOCKET / INDEX INFORMATION DOCKET NUMBER CASE NAME DOCUMENTS REQUESTED LETTERS TESTAMENTARY LETTERS AD PROSEQUENDAM LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION APPLICATION LETTERS OF GUARDIANSHIP OF A MINOR RENUNCIATION OTHER (SPECIFY) YES NO Certifi ed or Exemplifi ed Copies (extra charge) FOR RECORD REQUESTS OVER $50 TOTAL EST. COST DEPOSIT DATE ESTIMATED BALANCEDEPOSIT AMOUNT RECEIVED BY JUDICIARY USE ONLY DISPOSITION INFORMATION UNAVAILABLE DATE DENIED DATE DELIVERED DATE If request is denied or records are unavailable, explain here: Identifi cation provided for physical custody of fi le: MIDDLE INITIAL Promulgated 09/25/2007 by Directive #8-07, CN: 10964-English Page 1 of 2 SURROGATES’ JUDICIARY RECORDS INDEX FROM ________________________________________ TO ________________________________________ (PROVIDE DATES) INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBTAINING S URROGATES’ JUDICIARY RECORDS NOTE: This form should not be used to request transcripts of court proceedings. Ask court staff for information about obtaining transcripts. 1. Complete Parts A (optional), B, and C of this form, and deliver it during regular business hours to the Surrogate’s office. For mail or fax requests, first contact the Surrogate’s office. A directory of Surrogates’ offices statewide is available at njcourts.gov 2. If your request is for physical inspection of a court file or document rather than a photocopy, you will be asked to provide a government issued identification (for example, a driver’s license). If you do not provide such identification, your access to the records may be delayed until court staff is available to monitor your inspection of the records. 3. The fees for duplication of Judiciary records in printed/paper form are listed on the front of this form. Payment may be in the form prescribed by and to the payee identified by the Surrogate’s office in the county where the records are located. The $3 per page copy fee will be charged when Surrogate’s officestaff make the copy. There is no charge imposed for copies made by members of the public using their own equipment. When members of the public make copies at self-service equipment (e.g., photocopier, microfiche) available for such purpose, the actual cost of using the equipment will be charged. 4. You may be charged a 50% deposit when a request for copies is estimated to exceed $50. The record custodian will advise you of any deposit requirements. 5. The record custodian will notify you that he or she grants or denies a request for access to a Judiciary record. In most cases, access to a record stored on-site can be provided the same day. If the record is not readily available, or is stored off-site, the custodian will advise you within three business days when the record will be made available, and the estimated cost for providing the record to you. 6. You may be denied immediate access to court records if your request will substantially disrupt court operations. 7. If the Surrogate’s office is unable to comply with your request for access to a Judiciary record, the custodian will state the reasons on the request form and send you a signed and dated copy. 8. Information provided on this form may be subject to disclosure under Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey, Rule 1:38.