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Australia, Victoria, Index to Probate Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records

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Australia, Victoria, Index to Probate Registers, 1841-1989
CID1393345
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This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
Victoria, Australia
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Flag of Australia
Flag of Victoria
Flag of Victoria
Locator map of Victoria (Australia)
Location of Victoria, Australia
Location of Australia
Location of Australia
Record Description
Record Type Probate Registers
Collection years 1841-1989
FamilySearch Resources
Related Websites
Archive
Public Record Office - Victoria


What is in This Collection?

This collection of probate registers from the State of Victoria covers the years 1841-1989. The collection consists of an index to probate registers for Victoria located in the Public Record Office in Melbourne, Australia. Most of the documentation listed in the probate registers are wills handwritten in narrative form.

Probate records are court records created after an individual's death that relate to a court's decisions regarding the distribution of the estate to the heirs or creditors and the care of dependents. This takes place regardless of whether there is a will or not. The Probate Registry is responsible for determining, on application for a grant of representation, what document or documents constitute the last will of the deceased and/or who is entitled to be the personal representative of the deceased. When these determinations have been made, a grant is issued to the estate of the deceased person.

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

Index and Image Visibility

FamilySearch provides images and indexes subject to contractual limitations and changes. Access to images and indexes may vary. Some collections may only have partial indexes without images. See Restrictions for Viewing Images for details.

To Browse This Collection

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for Australia, Victoria, Index to Probate Registers, 1841-1989.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

  • Name of testator
  • Death date
  • Place of residence and address
  • Occupation
  • Date of testament
  • Declaration
  • Names of children or heirs
  • Name of spouse
  • Name of administrator of will
  • Guardians and relationships
  • Nature of grant
  • Witnesses

Collection History

The probates and wills in this collection were kept and recorded by several different government offices over time (Supreme Court of N.S.W. for the District of Port Phillip; Master of Equity, Supreme Court; Master of the Supreme Court; and Registrar of Probates, Supreme Court). The probates and wills were subsequently archived in the Public Record Office Victoria where they have been maintained in two separate series: Probate and Administration Files (Series VPRS 28) and Wills (VPRS 7591). The wills in this collection were originally among the estate papers in a probate application but were subsequently separated. The most recent probate records (2002 and later) are available only from the Victorian Probate Office.

Collection Content

Sample Image

  • 1902 Will

    1902 Will

How Do I Search This Collection?

Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

  • Given name
  • Gender
  • Approximate death date

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.
  1. Enter the information in the fields in the Search Collection section or click More Options to see additional fields
  2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images

View images in this collection by visiting the Collection Browse Page:
  1. Select Surname Range to view the images

How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

  • Add any new information to your records
  • Search for death records
  • Search for death or burial information in the BillionGraves Index or at Find a Grave
  • If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname
  • Search the records of nearby areas

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

  • If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname
  • Search the records of nearby areas
  • Check for other names. An individual might appear under an unexpected name for a variety of reasons:
    • A woman may have returned to her maiden name after the death of her husband

Research Helps

The following articles will help you research your family in Australia.

Citing This Collection

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation:
The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Cite This Collection.
Record Citation:
When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.
Image Citation:
When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.
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