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New Jersey · South Jersey · Jersey Shore · #245 Most Populous County in the US
Atlantic County, New Jersey
New Jersey's gaming and resort capital - from Atlantic City's Boardwalk and casino corridor to Hammonton's blueberry capital identity, the Pine Barrens' ecological wonder, and the growing suburban communities of Egg Harbor Township and Galloway. Property tax, courts, public records, and senior services for Atlantic County residents.
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Atlantic County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Office: Atlantic County Office of Emergency Management – Anthony “Tony” Canale Training Center, 5033 English Creek Avenue, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 | (609) 407-6742 | Fax: (609) 407-6745; Director Vince Jones. Also County Office Building, 1333 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401.
Sheriff: Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office – 4997 Unami Blvd, Mays Landing, NJ 08330 | (609) 909-7200; Sheriff Joseph “Tokyo” O’Donoghue. Formed 1837, roughly 105 sworn officers.
Detention: Gerard L. Gormley Justice Facility (Atlantic County Jail) – 5060 Atlantic Ave, Mays Landing, NJ 08330 | Warden’s line (609) 645-5855 | Fax (609) 909-7600; houses roughly 1,000 inmates, run by the County Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Detention (separate from the Sheriff’s Office).
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: The Atlantic City Expressway and US-30/US-40 serve Atlantic City, the county’s largest and most famous municipality; Mays Landing is the county seat.
Notes: Atlantic County, created 1837 from parts of Gloucester County, is named for the Atlantic Ocean.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Atlantic County Executive Office – 1333 Atlantic Ave, 8th Floor, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 | (609) 343-2201.
Notes: Atlantic City is genuinely home to the Atlantic City Boardwalk – opened June 26, 1870, it is the world’s oldest, longest (roughly 4+ miles today), and busiest boardwalk. Atlantic City’s street names and the boardwalk itself directly inspired the original 1935 Monopoly board game (Boardwalk, Park Place, Marvin Gardens, and other properties are all real Atlantic City streets); the Atlantic City Free Public Library maintains a dedicated Monopoly history collection. Atlantic City is home to nine casinos, including Hard Rock and Ocean Resort.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Atlantic County Veterans Museum and Veterans Service – confirm current contact via atlanticcountynj.gov.
Federal: nearby VA facilities via Philadelphia/South Jersey VA network.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Atlantic County Library System – founded 1926 following a public referendum, headquartered in Mays Landing; serves all county municipalities except Atlantic City (which maintains its own separate Atlantic City Free Public Library, home to a notable Monopoly game history archive); over 500,000 items, offers books-by-mail outreach.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: The Atlantic City Boardwalk, Atlantic City Aquarium (Historic Gardners Basin), Green Tree Golf Course, and the county’s Atlantic Ocean beaches are the county’s premier attractions.
Notes: The genuine, world-record status of the Atlantic City Boardwalk and its direct connection to the Monopoly board game are distinctive, world-famous local facts.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Atlantic County Board of Taxation – 5909 Main St, 2nd Fl, Mays Landing, NJ 08330 | (609) 645-5820.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Atlantic County Animal Shelter – operated by the county, open to public adoption, offers educational programs and facility tours for schools/organizations; confirm current phone via atlanticcountynj.gov.
Humane Society of Atlantic County (nonprofit, est. 1968) – Atlantic City, NJ; spay/neuter clinic, adoption programs, shelter outreach partnerships nationwide.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Atlantic County – confirm current contact via atlanticcountynj.gov.
NOTES: Atlantic County is the first county in the New Jersey v2 A+ sourced redo’s first batch (Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex). The genuine, world-record Atlantic City Boardwalk and its direct Monopoly board game connection are distinctive, world-famous local facts. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Atlantic County
Atlantic County is a South Jersey coastal county and the 245th most populous in the United States, covering 561 square miles from the Atlantic Ocean west through the Pine Barrens to the edge of agricultural South Jersey.
Atlantic City (population ~38,000) is New Jersey’s most famous city and one of America’s most complex urban stories – a Gilded Age resort of extraordinary Victorian splendor that declined sharply in the mid-20th century, was revived by casino legalization in 1976, peaked in the 1980s and 1990s as the dominant East Coast gaming destination, then faced severe competition from Connecticut’s Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania’s numerous casinos, and New York-area gaming. Multiple casino closures in the 2010s devastated the city’s economy. Today Atlantic City’s gaming sector has partially stabilized, with several major casinos – Borgata, Hard Rock (the former Trump Taj Mahal), Ocean Casino, and others – operating with significantly reduced employment relative to the boom era.
The Atlantic City Boardwalk – the original American boardwalk, built in 1870 – remains one of the most iconic pedestrian promenades in the United States. Steel Pier (an amusement pier dating to 1898) and the Boardwalk’s neon signage and salt water taffy shops maintain a nostalgic character. The Miss America pageant was held in Atlantic City from 1921 to 2004 and returned to the Boardwalk after a hiatus.
Egg Harbor Township (population ~44,000) is the county’s most populous municipality – a large suburban township south of Atlantic City with significant residential development and the Atlantic City International Airport within its boundaries.
Galloway Township (population ~38,000) is a large township with significant Pine Barrens habitat, the Stockton University campus (a liberal arts university, enrollment ~10,000), and residential development serving Atlantic City and the coastal resort areas.
Hammonton (population ~14,000) is known as the blueberry capital of the world – the sandy, acidic soils of the Pine Barrens fringe produce an extraordinary percentage of the nation’s blueberry crop, and Hammonton’s annual blueberry festival draws regional visitors.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Atlantic County’s 23 municipalities each have their own tax assessor with distinct equalization ratios. Atlantic City’s casino district operates under a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) structure for its commercial casino properties – an arrangement that affects the municipal tax base and residential tax burden. Assessment notices arrive in late January. The April 1 appeal deadline is absolute.
The appeal process: File with the Atlantic County Board of Taxation at 5901 Main Street, Mays Landing, NJ 08330, phone 609-645-5820. If not resolved favorably, appeal to the New Jersey Tax Court within 45 days.
NJ inheritance tax: No NJ estate tax since 2018. Inheritance tax – Class A (spouses, children, grandchildren): exempt. Class C (siblings): 11%–16%. Class D (all others): 15%–16%.
OWNWELL CTA: Atlantic County April 1 appeal deadline – absolute. Egg Harbor Township and Galloway suburban appreciation steady. Casino PILOT affects Atlantic City municipal tax structure. No NJ estate tax since 2018. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Atlantic County April 1 appeal deadline - absolute. Egg Harbor Township and Galloway suburban appreciation steady. Casino PILOT affects Atlantic City municipal tax structure. No NJ estate tax since 2018. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
Surrogate’s Court (Probate): The Atlantic County Surrogate at 5901 Main Street, Mays Landing, NJ 08330, phone 609-645-5834, handles wills, estate administration, and guardianships.
Superior Court: The Atlantic County Superior Court at 1201 Bacharach Boulevard, Atlantic City, handles civil, criminal, and family matters.
County Clerk: The Atlantic County Clerk at 5901 Main Street, Mays Landing, maintains land records. Land records searchable online.
Senior Services
The Atlantic County Office on Aging at 101 S. Shore Road, Northfield, NJ 08225, phone 609-645-7700, serves the county’s senior population with in-home services, caregiver support, nutrition programs, transportation, and benefits counseling. AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center provides significant geriatric care and is the county’s largest healthcare employer.
Recommended
Assisted living, memory care, and independent living across Atlantic County - from Atlantic City and Egg Harbor Township to Galloway, Hammonton, and Mays Landing.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
5901 Main St., Mays Landing, NJ 08330
(609) 645-5837
COUNTY CLERK — ELECTIONS
5901 Main St., Mays Landing, NJ 08330
(609) 645-5837
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Atlantic County Surrogate’s Court, Mays Landing (probate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Atlantic County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Atlantic County Surrogate’s Court
5911 Main Street, Mays Landing, NJ 08330 (also: 1201 Bacharach Blvd, 2nd Floor, Atlantic City, NJ 08401) (609) 645-5800 Atlantic County is in southeastern New Jersey, home to Atlantic City, seated in Mays Landing.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
New Jersey probate is governed by Title 3B of the New Jersey Statutes. The elected Surrogate’s Court in each county handles uncontested probate matters; contested matters are referred to the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part. The Surrogate is also Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part.
Affidavit of Surviving Spouse (N.J.S.A. 3B:10-3) – available only when the decedent died WITHOUT a will (intestate) and the total value of real and personal assets does not exceed $50,000. The surviving spouse, civil union partner, or domestic partner may file this affidavit with the Surrogate’s Court and receive the assets without formal administration. The first $10,000 of the estate is free from the decedent’s debts. There is no affidavit shortcut if a will exists – a will must always be probated regardless of estate size.
Affidavit of Next of Kin (N.J.S.A. 3B:10-4) – available only when the decedent died intestate, there is no surviving spouse/partner, and the estate does not exceed $20,000. One of the next of kin may file this affidavit with the written consent of all other heirs of equal or greater priority.
Regular (Formal) Probate – required whenever there’s a will, or when an intestate estate exceeds the small-estate thresholds above.
Step 2: filing for regular probate
File an Application for Probate with the Surrogate’s Court in the county where the decedent was domiciled (as soon as 10 days after death).
The Surrogate admits the will and issues Letters Testamentary, or – for intestate estates – appoints an administrator and issues Letters of Administration. A surety bond may be required for an administrator.
The Surrogate issues “short certificates,” which the executor/administrator uses as proof of authority – a certificate is typically needed for each asset that must be transferred or sold.
The personal representative notifies creditors and beneficiaries; New Jersey’s creditor claim period is 9 months from death.
The personal representative inventories assets, pays debts and taxes (including any New Jersey Inheritance Tax return, if applicable), and distributes the remaining assets according to the will or New Jersey’s intestacy statute.
The estate is closed with a final accounting filed with the court.
What it costs
Surrogate’s Court filing fees generally range from about $100 to $250 depending on the county and the complexity/value of the estate.
New Jersey does NOT require an attorney for probate, but one is commonly recommended for anything beyond the simplest estates.
UNIQUE TO NEW JERSEY: New Jersey has an INHERITANCE TAX that applies to transfers to “Class C” and “Class D” beneficiaries – nieces, nephews, friends, and other non-immediate relatives – even for relatively small inheritances; there is no minimum exemption threshold. Transfers to a spouse, civil union/domestic partner, parents, children, grandchildren, and stepchildren (“Class A” beneficiaries) are exempt.
New Jersey repealed its separate state ESTATE tax for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2018 – only the inheritance tax remains at the state level.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
4997 Unami Blvd., Mays Landing, NJ 08330
(609) 909-7200
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK — ELECTIONS
5901 Main St., Mays Landing, NJ 08330
(609) 645-5837
ELECTIONS
5901 Main St., Mays Landing, NJ 08330
(609) 645-5837
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
NJ DHHS — Atlantic
(609) 645-7700
AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center
atlanticare.org (Atlantic City — quality regional hospital; major south Jersey anchor; Level II Trauma)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Atlantic County Division of Public Health – confirm current contact via atlanticcountynj.gov.
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