Within 60 days after the date of the probate of a will, the personal representative shall cause to be mailed to all beneficiaries under the will and to all persons designated by R. 4:80-1(a)(3), at their last known addresses, a notice in writing that the will has been probated, the place and date of probate, the name and address of the personal representative and a statement that a copy of the will shall be furnished upon request. Proof of mailing shall be filed with the Surrogate within 10 days thereof. If the names or addresses of any of those persons are not known, or cannot by reasonable inquiry be determined, then a notice of probate of the will shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county naming or identifying those persons as having a possible interest in the probate estate. If by the terms of the will property is devoted to a present or future charitable use or purpose, like notice and a copy of the will shall be mailed to the Attorney General.
Rule 4:80-6.Notice of probate of will
Last amended September 4, 1990 · Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 7, 2026
In one sentenceRule 4:80-6 requires the personal representative to mail every beneficiary and next of kin notice of a will's probate within 60 days, publish notice for anyone whose name or address can't be found, and notify the Attorney General when the will benefits a charitable purpose.
Full Text of Rule 4:80-6
Amendment History
New Jersey publishes each rule’s amendment record in a “History” note beneath the rule. It is reproduced verbatim below; the “R.R.” citations refer to the former Revised Rules numbering the current rules replaced.
Source-R.R. 4:99-7; former R. 4:80-8; amended and rule redesignated June 29, 1990 to be effective September 4, 1990.
Plain-English Summary
Beneficiaries and next of kin shouldn't have to find out about a probate on their own. Within 60 days after a will is probated, the personal representative mails everyone named as a beneficiary, along with the spouse, heirs, and next of kin, written notice of where and when the probate happened, the representative's contact information, and an offer to furnish a copy of the will on request — with proof of that mailing filed with the Surrogate within 10 days after that.
When someone's name or address can't reasonably be found, notice instead runs in a local newspaper, identifying that person as a possible interested party. And if the will leaves anything to a charitable use, the Attorney General gets the same notice and a copy of the will.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a personal representative have to notify beneficiaries after a will is probated?
60 days, with proof of mailing filed with the Surrogate within 10 days after that.
What happens if a beneficiary's address can't be found?
Notice of the probate is published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, identifying that person as having a possible interest.
Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the
official New Jersey Rules of Court (N.J. Ct. R. 4:80-6). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey (N.J. Const. art. VI, § 2, ¶ 3). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 7, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: notice of probate