What are the inheritance laws in NJ?
James Craig
Published Mar 02, 2026
Spouses in New Jersey Inheritance Law If you die with parents but no children, your spouse will inherit the first 25% of your intestate property, as long as it is not less than $50,000 or more than $200,000. And 25% of the remaining intestate property is given to your parents, and your spouse keeps the rest.
Is there an inheritance in NJ?
New Jersey has had an Inheritance Tax since 1892, when a tax was imposed on property transferred from a deceased person to a beneficiary. Inheritance Tax is based on who specifically will receive or has received a decedent’s assets, and how much each beneficiary is entitled to receive.
How does inheritance tax work in New Jersey?
Inheritance Tax is based on who specifically will receive or has received a decedent’s assets, and how much each beneficiary is entitled to receive. When someone dies, the assets he/she owns must go somewhere or to someone.
Who are the heirs to an estate in New Jersey?
Children in New Jersey Inheritance Law If you have no spouse and any of your children are alive, they are the only heirs to your estate. However, if your spouse is alive, that’s a different story.
Do you pay estate tax in New Jersey?
In all cases, if the decedent was not a resident of New Jersey, there was no New Jersey Estate Tax due. In New Jersey, the Inheritance Tax was a credit against the Estate Tax; an estate paid only the higher of the two. The New Jersey Estate Tax was phased out in two parts. If the resident decedent died:
What are the rules for intestate succession in New Jersey?
For example, whether the decedent has a surviving spouse, children, parents, or more distant living relatives. Each state has enacted an intestate succession law, which is a government-mandated estate plan for when a person dies without a Will. Here is a link to the New Jersey statutefor reference.