If an application is made for letters of guardianship for a minor of the age of 14 years or more whose parent has absconded or has been absent from the State leaving the minor without sufficient provisions for maintenance or education, or for any minor desiring the appointment of a special guardian in order to enlist in the armed forces of the United States, the application shall be signed by the minor in the presence of any Surrogate or Deputy Surrogate. If the minor is outside this State, the application shall be signed by the minor and acknowledged in the manner provided for deeds, either in the presence of a judge of a court of record or, in a foreign country, in the presence of an officer authorized by the law of that country to take acknowledgements.
Rule 4:81-3.Signature to application
Last amended September 4, 1990 · Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 7, 2026
In one sentenceRule 4:81-3 requires a 14-or-older minor applying for a guardian -- whether due to an absent parent or to enlist in the armed forces -- to sign the application before a Surrogate, or, if outside the state, to sign and acknowledge it before a judge or authorized foreign officer.
Full Text of Rule 4:81-3
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. 4:101-3; caption and text of former R. 4:82-3; amended and rule redesignated June 29, 1990 to be effective September 4, 1990.
Plain-English Summary
Some guardianship applications come from the minor personally: a 14-or-older minor whose parent has absconded or left without providing for maintenance or education, or a minor seeking a special guardian in order to enlist in the armed forces. That minor signs the application in front of a Surrogate or Deputy Surrogate.
If the minor is outside New Jersey when signing, the application instead gets acknowledged the way a deed would be — before a judge of a court of record, or, in a foreign country, before whatever officer that country authorizes to take acknowledgments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a minor personally apply for a guardian to enlist in the armed forces?
Yes, a minor 14 or older may do so, signing the application before a Surrogate or Deputy Surrogate, or, if outside the state, acknowledging it before a judge or authorized foreign officer.
Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the
official New Jersey Rules of Court (N.J. Ct. R. 4:81-3). 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: minor's guardianship application signature