Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in New Jersey

Re: a gift from will

What you are probably being asked to sign is a Release and Refunding Bond, which all Will beneficiaries must sign, acknowledging they received what they are entitled to under the Will. These are necessary to close an estate with the Surrogate's office. If this is all you are entitled to under the Will, this closes your interest in the estate and you are correct you can make no furtrher claims. However, if you are both the recipient of a specific bequest and a residual heir (entitled to something else), this does not preclude you from making a claim for anything else you are entitled to from the estate.