Free Resource Guide
South Jersey Senior & Estate Resources
If you’re sorting out an inherited house, helping a parent downsize, or just trying to figure out what help exists in your county, start here. Every program and office on this page is public and free to use, and we link to official sources so you can verify everything yourself.
We put this together because most families we talk to are looking for the same thing: a straight answer about who can actually help. Some of them end up selling to us. A lot of them don’t, and that’s fine. Use the list either way.
Veteran-Owned
Based in
Haddonfield, NJ
Start Here
Where Are You Right Now?
I inherited a house.
Someone in the family passed, the deed is still in their name, and you’re not sure what you’re allowed to do next. Start with the county Surrogate.
Jump to ProbateMom or Dad needs to move.
Care is changing, the house is too much, and the clock is running. Your county Office on Aging is the front door for almost everything.
Jump to CareI’m behind on taxes or the house needs work.
There may be money you’re owed before you ever think about selling.
Jump to Relief ProgramsMoney You May Be Owed
Property Tax Relief Most People Never Apply For
New Jersey runs several property tax relief programs, and they’re routinely missed. If you own a home and you’re 65 or older, a veteran, or on a fixed income, there’s a decent chance you qualify for at least one. These are state programs, not ours. We don’t administer them and we don’t get paid if you apply.
| Program | Who qualifies | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Stay NJ | Homeowners 65 and older, income limits apply | Up to $6,500 back on property taxes at $100K income or less; $5,000 up to $150K. |
| ANCHOR | Homeowners and renters, income limits apply | A rebate of $1,500 for homeowners at $150K income or less, $1,000 up to $250K. |
| Senior Freeze | Homeowners born 1960 or earlier, or receiving Social Security disability | Reimburses increases in your property tax bill on your primary home. |
| PAAD / Senior Gold | Seniors and people with disabilities, income limits apply | Help with prescription costs. |
| NJSave | Low-income older adults | One application that screens you for prescription help, Medicare premium help, and utility assistance at the same time. |
| Veterans property tax deduction | Veterans, and 100% permanently disabled veterans | An annual deduction, or a full exemption for 100% disabled veterans. Apply through your municipal tax assessor. |
Apply directly at nj.gov/treasury/taxation/relief.shtml. If you’d rather have someone walk you through it, your county Office on Aging will do it for free. Numbers are in the county table below.
Program rules, income limits, and deadlines are set by the State of New Jersey and change with each state budget. Figures shown are current as of November 4, 2026.
Inherited a House
Inherited a House in New Jersey? Start With the Surrogate
If someone died and the deed is still in their name, nothing can be sold or transferred until the estate is opened. In New Jersey that happens at the county Surrogate’s office, in the county where the person lived. You don’t always need a lawyer to open an estate, but you do need to go there first.
| County | Surrogate’s office | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | 5911 Main St, Mays Landing | 609-645-5800 |
| Burlington | 50 Rancocas Rd, Mt. Holly | 609-265-5005 |
| Camden | 509 Lakeland Rd, Blackwood | 856-225-7282 |
| Cape May | 4 Moore Rd, Cape May Court House | 609-463-6666 |
| Cumberland | 60 W Broad St, Suite A111, Bridgeton | 856-453-4800 |
| Gloucester | 17 N Broad St, Woodbury | 856-853-3282 |
| Salem | 174 E Broadway, 2nd Fl, Salem | 856-935-7510 |
Two Things That Stall Inherited House Sales
The tax waiver
Before New Jersey real estate can be transferred out of a deceased person’s name, the state Division of Taxation has to issue a waiver, Form 0-1. It’s a routine step, but it has a queue, and closings get pushed back when nobody starts it early. Bank accounts and non-real-estate assets use a different form, the L-8.
Title problems nobody checked
Old mortgages, unpaid taxes, a prior heir who was never properly removed, a deed that was never recorded. These surface at the worst possible time. Ask the question early.
Free Legal Help
South Jersey Legal Services handles civil cases for low-income residents, including estate and housing matters, at offices in each county. Legal Services of New Jersey runs a statewide hotline at 1-888-576-5529.
Not sure whether the estate is even open? We’ll look it up with you, no charge and no pitch.
Talk to a Real PersonCare & Aging Services
Your County Office on Aging Is the Front Door
Every New Jersey county has an Area Agency on Aging, and it also serves as the Aging & Disability Resource Connection. That’s a long name for a simple thing: one office that can tell you what in-home care, caregiver support, meals, transportation, and long-term care options exist in your county and who pays for them. It’s free and you don’t have to be low-income to call.
| County | Office | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | Atlantic County Office on Aging | 609-645-5965 |
| Burlington | Burlington County Office on Aging | 609-265-5069 |
| Camden | Camden County Division of Senior & Disabled Services | 856-858-3220 |
| Cape May | Cape May County Dept. of Aging & Disability Services | 609-886-2784 |
| Cumberland | Cumberland County Office on Aging & Disabled | 856-453-2220 |
| Gloucester | Gloucester County Division of Senior Services | 856-384-6900 |
| Salem | Salem County Office on Aging | 856-339-8622 |
Two Numbers Worth Saving
1-877-222-3737
The statewide Aging & Disability Resource Connection line, if you’re not sure which county office you need.
2-1-1
New Jersey’s information and referral line. Senior services, legal help, utility assistance, food. Available 24/7.
Medicare Questions
Free, unbiased counseling through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program. In Burlington and Camden, call Senior Citizens United Community Services at 856-456-1121. In the other five counties, ask your Office on Aging for the SHIP counselor.
Veterans
For Veterans and Surviving Spouses
Patriot is veteran-owned, and this is the section we care most about getting right. Two things veterans and widows routinely miss:
Your county Veterans Service Officer
Every South Jersey county has one. They file VA claims and appeals for you at no cost, and they know the local programs that stack on top of federal benefits.
VA Aid & Attendance
A pension benefit for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily living. It can pay toward home care or assisted living, and it’s the difference between staying home and not for a lot of families.
Why We Publish This
Why a Home Buyer Is Giving Away a Resource List
We’re Patriot Property Buyer. We’re veteran-owned, we’ve been buying houses in New Jersey for more than 17 years, and we buy as-is for cash. That’s the business.
This page exists because the families who call us are usually dealing with more than a house. They’re dealing with a probate timeline, a parent’s care, a tax bill they didn’t know about. Sometimes the honest answer is that selling to us is the right move. Sometimes it isn’t, and the right move is a program on this page or a professional we’ll introduce you to. We’d rather tell you that and be the first call when things change.
We’re not attorneys, we’re not lenders, and we’re not a government agency. We don’t charge for this list.
FAQ
Questions Families Ask Us
Is this list really free?
Yes. No cost, no sign-up, no obligation. The programs are state and county programs, and the legal help is free legal aid.
Are you a government agency?
No. Patriot Property Buyer is a private real estate buyer. We link to official sources so you can verify everything yourself.
What if I’m not ready to sell?
Then don’t. Call the county office that fits your situation and come back to us when the timing is right. We’ll still answer the phone.
How fast can you close if I do decide to sell?
On your timeline. If you need to move quickly, tell us. If you need more time, we’ll build the closing date around you.
Do you buy houses in any condition?
We buy as-is, so no repairs and no agent commissions are needed. Send us the details and we’ll tell you whether we can help.
Do you work with attorneys and agents?
Yes. We have pages for estate attorneys and real estate agents.
Will you pressure me?
No. Ask for an offer, look at it, and take your time. A lot of the people we talk to don’t sell to us.
Get Started
Not Sure Where to Start?
Tell us what’s going on and we’ll point you to the right office, whether or not selling is part of it. If you’d rather just talk it through, call us.
Call (856) 856-5339
No obligation. We won’t add you to a drip campaign for asking a question.
Tell Us What’s Going On
Patriot Property Buyer is a private real estate investment company. We are not a government agency, law firm, tax advisor, or lender. Information on this page is general and current as of November 4, 2026; program rules are set by the State of New Jersey and may change. Verify eligibility with the agency listed.