New Jersey Statutes Appendix - Former Title 3A Administration of Estates Decedents and Others 3A § 40-6

The Superior Court, or the County Court of the county in which is located an absentee's last known residence or in the case of a nonresident of this State the County Court of the county in which is located any property owned by the absentee, may declare the absentee dead, if it is satisfied that he should be presumed dead under the provisions of section 3A:40-1 of this title, or if it concludes from a review of the evidence, both direct and circumstantial, that the earlier death of said absentee has been established and that the death occurred prior to the institution of the proceeding before the court. Such a declaration with respect to a nonresident shall affect only property located within the State.