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New Jersey · South Jersey · Delaware Valley · #125 Most Populous County in the US
Burlington County, New Jersey
New Jersey's largest county by land area - from the Delaware River towns of Burlington City and Bordentown through the Pinelands to the Atlantic County border. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the state's largest military installation, anchors the county's federal employment base. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for Burlington County residents.
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Burlington 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: Burlington County Office of Emergency Management – 49 Rancocas Road, Mount Holly, NJ 08060 | (609) 265-5000.
Sheriff: Burlington County Sheriff’s Office – 49 Rancocas Road, Ground Floor G4, Mount Holly, NJ 08060 | (609) 265-5127 | Fax: (609) 265-5767 | Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 AM-4:30 PM; Sheriff James Kostoplis. Offers free home security inspections for seniors and a child safety seat check program.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-295, the NJ Turnpike, and Route 38 serve Mount Holly, the county seat, in south-central New Jersey.
Notes: Mount Holly was settled in 1677, formed as Northampton Township in 1688, and renamed Mount Holly in 1931, after a hill covered with holly trees. Burlington County is New Jersey’s largest county by area.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Burlington County Courthouse – Mount Holly, NJ 08060; genuinely NRHP-listed (1973), built 1796, still handles active judicial proceedings today, a contributing property to the Mount Holly Historic District.
Notes: Burlington County is genuinely home to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst – the only U.S. military installation with detachments from all six branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force), plus significant National Guard and Reserve presence. The county is also home to the Joint Training and Training Development Center, supporting up to 20,000 military and law enforcement personnel annually. Historic Smithville, a preserved 19th-century industrial village, is undergoing continued preservation with support from the New Jersey Historic Trust.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Burlington County Department of Military and Veteran’s Services – confirm current phone via burlingtoncountynj.gov; Hours Mon-Fri 8 AM-onward.
Federal: Joint Base McGuire-Dix, NJ Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) – provides primary care, behavioral health, podiatry, and women’s health services for veterans, with specialty referrals to the Philadelphia VA Medical Center.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Confirm current library address/hours via burlingtoncountynj.gov; the Burlington County Library System serves communities countywide.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Historic Smithville Park, the John Woolman Memorial in Mount Holly, and Van Wagoner Farm (recently preserved via the county’s open space and farmland preservation programs) are the county’s premier attractions.
Notes: The genuine all-branch military presence at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is a distinctive local fact.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Burlington County Board of Taxation – confirm current contact via co.burlington.nj.us.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Burlington County Animal Shelter – Westampton Township, NJ; county-operated shelter; confirm current phone via co.burlington.nj.us/facilities.
Friends of the Burlington County Animal Shelter (nonprofit) – funds adoption promotions, specialized medical care, food, and toys for shelter animals.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Burlington County – confirm current contact via co.burlington.nj.us.
NOTES: Burlington County is the third county in the New Jersey v2 A+ sourced redo’s first batch (Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex). The genuine all-branch military presence at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is a distinctive local fact. 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 Burlington County
Burlington County is New Jersey’s largest county by land area – a sprawling 799 square miles stretching from the Delaware River on its western border through the southern New Jersey suburbs and into the vast, undeveloped expanse of the New Jersey Pinelands (the Pine Barrens) on its eastern reaches. This geographic span produces a county of remarkable contrasts: dense suburban communities with direct access to Philadelphia and Trenton, prosperous bedroom communities served by the NJ Transit River Line light rail, agricultural and equestrian estates in the central interior, and pine-and-cedar wilderness in the east where population density drops nearly to zero and the Pinelands National Reserve remains one of the largest preserved natural areas in the northeastern United States.
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB MDL) – the nation’s only tri-service joint base – sits in the heart of Burlington County. Created in 2009 by the merger of McGuire Air Force Base, Fort Dix, and Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, JB MDL is New Jersey’s largest federal facility and one of the largest military installations in the eastern United States. The base hosts the 305th Air Mobility Wing (airlift and aerial refueling operations), Army training operations, and the historic Lakehurst site where the Hindenburg disaster occurred in 1937. JB MDL’s workforce includes tens of thousands of active-duty military, reserves, civilian employees, and contractors, making the base a dominant economic force throughout the county.
The county’s significant communities include Evesham Township (the largest municipality, anchored by the Route 73 commercial corridor), Mount Holly (county seat, with a revitalized historic downtown), Bordentown (a Delaware River town with a colonial-era commercial district), Burlington City (one of New Jersey’s oldest cities, settled in 1677), and the planned communities of Medford and Marlton serving Philadelphia commuters. The Princeton Junction / Robbinsville corridor on the county’s northern edge connects to the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor rail line.
County government is a three-member Board of County Commissioners (shifted from “freeholders” in 2021 under state legislation), with separately elected offices for the County Clerk, Sheriff, Surrogate, and Prosecutor.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
New Jersey’s property tax system is administered at the municipal level – each of Burlington County’s 40 municipalities has its own tax assessor who determines property values. The Burlington County Board of Taxation (49 Rancocas Road, Mount Holly, 609-265-5080) oversees equalization across municipalities, hears assessment appeals, and certifies the county’s equalization table.
Burlington County’s alternate appeal calendar – January 15 deadline:
Burlington County is one of only three New Jersey counties (along with Gloucester and Monmouth) that operate under an alternate appeal calendar. The standard statewide deadline for filing a property tax appeal in New Jersey is April 1 (or May 1 in revaluation/reassessment years). In Burlington County, the filing deadline with the Burlington County Board of Taxation is January 15 of the tax year. This earlier deadline catches many Burlington County property owners off guard – especially those who recently purchased property in the second half of the prior year. If you receive a new assessment notice in November or December and do not act by January 15, you lose the right to appeal for that year.
Chapter 123 equalization ratio: New Jersey applies a Chapter 123 equalization ratio (also called the “common level”) to each municipality, representing the average relationship between assessed value and true market value. If a municipality’s equalization ratio is below 85% of true value (meaning properties are generally under-assessed), the county board will not reduce your assessment even if your specific property appears over-assessed – because the county is equalized at that lower ratio. Understanding your municipality’s current equalization ratio is essential before deciding whether an appeal is worth pursuing.
The appeal process:
Step 1 – Burlington County Board of Taxation: File your appeal with the Board of Taxation by January 15. The Board holds hearings and issues a judgment. For properties assessed at under $1 million, this is your first required step.
Step 2 – New Jersey Tax Court: If unsatisfied with the Board’s judgment – or if your property is assessed at $1 million or more – file directly with the New Jersey Tax Court in Trenton within 45 days of the Board judgment (or by January 15 for $1M+ properties).
The Freeze Act: A successful appeal in New Jersey can trigger the Freeze Act, which locks in your reduced assessment for the following two tax years – giving you three years of protection total (the year of the appeal plus two more) before the assessor can raise the assessment again. The Freeze Act is automatic and requires no additional action by the taxpayer.
Senior and other exemptions: New Jersey’s Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) program reimburses eligible seniors (age 65+) and disabled persons for property tax increases above a base year amount – income limit $150,000. The ANCHOR program (Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters) provides property tax relief regardless of age – homeowners (income up to $500,000) and renters (income up to $150,000) may qualify. The Stay NJ program (phased in beginning 2026) provides senior property tax credits of up to 50% of the tax bill.
New Jersey eliminated its estate tax in 2018. New Jersey inheritance tax still applies – rates vary by relationship to the decedent (Class A: no tax for spouses, children, grandchildren, parents; Class C: 11-16% for siblings and spouses of children; Class D: 15-16% for all others).
OWNWELL CTA: Burlington County’s January 15 deadline is earlier than virtually every other New Jersey county – mark it in November when assessment notices arrive. Chapter 123 equalization ratio determines whether your appeal is viable. The Freeze Act can lock in savings for three years. ANCHOR rebates are available regardless of age. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Burlington County's January 15 deadline is earlier than virtually every other New Jersey county - mark it in November when assessment notices arrive. Chapter 123 equalization ratio determines whether your appeal is viable. The Freeze Act can lock in savings for three years. ANCHOR rebates are available regardless of age. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
The Burlington County Superior Court at 49 Rancocas Road, Mount Holly (609-265-5020) handles all civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. The Burlington County Surrogate’s Court (the probate court in New Jersey) at 49 Rancocas Road (609-265-5082) handles estate administration, guardianships, and trusts. The Burlington County Clerk at 50 Rancocas Road, Mount Holly (609-265-5020) maintains all land records – deeds, mortgages, and recorded documents – searchable online at co.burlington.nj.us.
New Jersey inheritance tax is administered by the New Jersey Division of Taxation (not the Surrogate). The inheritance tax return (Form IT-R for resident estates) is due within eight months of the date of death. A lien on New Jersey real property cannot be released without either paying the inheritance tax or obtaining a waiver – important for real estate transactions involving decedent estates.
JB MDL military estate planning: Burlington County’s large active-duty and veteran military population creates the same SBP, SGLI, TSP beneficiary designation complexity documented elsewhere in this series. The Legal Assistance Office at JB MDL provides free estate planning services to eligible active-duty personnel and their dependents. Reservists activated to JB MDL may also access legal assistance during activation periods.
Pine Barrens estate issues: Burlington County’s large undeveloped Pinelands land holdings create specific estate planning and property transfer questions. Pinelands development credits (PDCs) are a transferable development right created by the Pinelands Commission – they have market value and can be part of an estate. Pinelands land restricted from development may have significantly lower market value than otherwise comparable rural land, affecting estate valuation for inheritance tax purposes.
Senior Services: The Burlington County Office of Human Services – Division of Senior Services (609-265-5069) at 795 Woodlane Road, Mount Holly coordinates senior centers, the Meals on Wheels program, transportation, SHIP Medicare counseling (New Jersey SHIP), caregiver support, Adult Protective Services, and connections to New Jersey Medicaid long-term care programs.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
49 Rancocas Rd., Mount Holly, NJ 08060
(609) 265-5020
COUNTY CLERK — ELECTIONS
49 Rancocas Rd., Mount Holly, NJ 08060
(609) 265-5062
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Burlington County Surrogate’s Court, Mount Holly (probate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Burlington 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
Burlington County Surrogate’s Court
Burlington County Courts Facility, 50 Rancocas Road, 1st Floor (mail: P.O. Box 6000), Mount Holly, NJ 08060 (609) 265-5005 Burlington County is New Jersey’s largest county by land area, seated in Mount Holly.
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.
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
49 Rancocas Rd., Mount Holly, NJ 08060
(609) 265-7874
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK — ELECTIONS
49 Rancocas Rd., Mount Holly, NJ 08060
(609) 265-5062
ELECTIONS
49 Rancocas Rd., Mount Holly, NJ 08060
(609) 265-5062
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
NJ DHHS — Burlington
(609) 261-5088
Virtua Mount Holly Hospital
virtua.org (Mount Holly — quality regional hospital; Virtua Health system)
Joint Base MDJ/Deborah Heart and Lung Center
deborah.org (Browns Mills — quality specialized cardiac and pulmonary care)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Burlington County Health Department – confirm current contact via co.burlington.nj.us.
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
Recommended for New Jersey
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