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Public Notice: In Memoriam – Surrogate Michael R. Dressler

It is with profound sadness that the staff of the Bergen County Surrogate’s Court acknowledges the passing of our Surrogate, Michael R. Dressler (8/2/1952 – 12/4/2025). His loss is deeply felt throughout our office and the Bergen County community.

For more than a quarter century, Surrogate Dressler served the people of Bergen County with compassion, integrity, and unwavering dedication. His leadership and his belief that every family should be treated with dignity, especially in their most difficult moments, set the standard for our work.

As we mourn his passing, we also reaffirm our commitment to carrying forward his memory with a special place on this evolving site and the values he championed: professionalism, kindness, and respect for every resident who turns to this Court for help. We are grateful to have had the honor of working with him and will strive each day to continue his legacy of service.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Agata, his son Nikias, his brother Raymond, his sister Jeanne, and to all who loved him.

Important Information for Visitors

BERGEN COUNTY SURROGATE

Please note that the Bergen County Surrogate's Court is open BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Once you have sent in the requisite documents you will be contacted by a clerk to schedule your appointment.

It is very important to note that pro se clients who wish to pick up or drop off materials must also make an appointment to do so.

As per our Notice to the Bar dated 7/20/21, in the alternative we will continue our policy of probating estates and filing court documents remotely as we established in April 2020 .

Below you will find instructions and documents that you will need to complete and send to us in a probate matter.

Information Fact Sheets & Getting Started

We have provided links to downloadable information fact sheets with renunciation forms attached, which are essential documents in creating any case in our system. It is important that you choose the correct form(s) depending on whether or not there was a Last Will & Testament.

DOWNLOAD: WILL FACT SHEET. DOWNLOAD: ADMINISTRATION FACT SHEET (NO WILL).

***It is imperative that you include a daytime phone number and/or valid email address when you contact our office! Failure to do so may result in a significant delay in the probate/administration process.***

You may send the following documents via mail to our attention to assist in processing a PROBATE through our office at this time:

  1. Last Will & Testament

    IMPORTANT NOTE: If sending the original, you MUST send it via FedEx, UPS, certified/registered mail. In other words, it MUST be tracked however you choose to send the original to our attention.

  2. Certified copy of the death certificate (raised seal)

    IMPORTANT NOTE: We REQUIRE that you send us at the very least a copy of the death certificate as a part of your initial inquiry. And, as outlined below, we will also require a certified copy of the death certificate (with a raised seal) to finalize the matter.

  3. Fiduciary(ies) full name(s) and address(es), phone number(s) and Social Security number(s).

  4. Names and addresses of immediate next-of-kin even if they are not in the LW&T.

  5. How many Surrogate certificates you need to order.

  6. Photocopy of 2 forms of ID (driver's license, passport, work ID, etc) for fiduciary(ies)!

    IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT SEND THE DECEDENT’S PHOTO IDENTIFICATION. PHOTO ID REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR FIDUCIARIES (administrators, executors, trustees, etc.) ONLY

  7. Photocopy of proof of address (utility bill, credit card bill, etc.)

  8. Mail or e-mail the information to us. Please include the name of the deceased, the date of death and any pertinent case or microfilm number in the subject line of any e-mails for quick reference. Our physical address remains the same and is listed above.

VERY IMPORTANT: We will require the original Last Will & Testament, a Certified Copy of the Death Certificate with a raised seal (referenced above in #2) and the statutory fee to finalize the procedure in a probate matter.

If you have any questions about our fees (or our fee schedule itself), you may call our office to discuss them: (201) 336-6700.

Funeral Homes Serving Bergen County

We are honored to work alongside compassionate funeral directors throughout Bergen County. Visit our funeral homes page for a helpful, easy-to-browse list of providers who serve our families, neighbors and friends.

View Funeral Homes List

Remote Probate & Court Filings

As per our Notice to the Bar dated 7/20/21, in the alternative we will continue our policy of probating estates and filing court documents remotely as we established in April 2020 (see PUBLIC NOTICE).

Our office has successfully helped many residents complete the probate process remotely. This may include sending documents by mail, e-mail, or using other remote communication tools as directed by our staff.

Contact Information & Department E-Mail Addresses

If you have questions about any of the instructions above, about our fees, or about which documents you should send, please contact the Bergen County Surrogate’s Court. We are honored to serve our friends, neighbors, and families here in Bergen County.

Phone: (201) 336-6700

You may contact our various departments via e-mail as follows:

For probate: bersurrprobate@bergencountynj.gov

For court division: bersurrcourt@bergencountynj.gov

For finance division: bersurrfinance@bergencountynj.gov

For correspondence: bersurrcorrespondence@bergencountynj.gov

For records: bersurrrecords@bergencountynj.gov

For letters: bersurrletters@bergencountynj.gov

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