FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Pennsylvania/Tasks-Probate Intro
WikiProject Pennsylvania 
Progress Chart Pennsylvania Wiki Project Task - Probate Intro
Description
The purpose of this task is to add the intro template and the ending template to the Probate Records heading.
Instructions
1. Under the Probate Records Heading add the following template:
- {{PA Probate Intro}}<br>
- {{PA Probate Intro}}<br>
2. At the end of the Probate records section (after any databases or FS LibraryC entries that are listed) and just before the Repositories heading, add the following template:
- {{PA probate FS LibraryC and WorldCat|1|2}}<br>
- {{PA probate FS LibraryC and WorldCat|1|2}}<br>
3. Replace the number "1" in the template with the name of your county between the pipes, such as Berks.
4. Replace the number "2" and add the FamilySearch Catalog (FS LibraryC) subject number. Find the subject number as follows:
- a. Do a place search of the FS LibraryC for your county.
- b. Select Probate Records from the record groups displayed.
- c. Select any record displayed.
- d. Select the highlighted phrase under the word "Subjects".
- e. Copy the number displayed in the upper right-hand corner in the display box "For". This is the subject number.
- f. Paste this number into the PA probate FS LibraryC and WorldCat template where you see the number
- a. Do a place search of the FS LibraryC for your county.
5. Your new finished template should look something like this:
- {{PA probate FS LibraryC and WorldCat|Berks|452254}}<br>
- {{PA probate FS LibraryC and WorldCat|Berks|452254}}<br>
6. If there is no probate topic for your county, instead add the following template replacing the word "Berks" with the name of your county:
- {{PA probate FS LibraryC and WorldCat2|Berks}}
- {{PA probate FS LibraryC and WorldCat2|Berks}}
7. Save the page and you are finished with the task.
Example of Task
Probate Records
Probate matters in Berks County, Pennsylvania are handled by the Orphans' Court. To obtain original probate records, contact the Orphan's Court in the County Courthouse.
In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates of decedents, incompetents, and minors; appointment and control of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills involving probate matters; inheritance tax appeals and various petitions and motions.
Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts
Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Berks County Pennsylvania probate wills in online catalogs like:
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FS Catalog Place-name Search).
Example of Completed Probate Records Section
Probate matters in Berks County, Pennsylvania are handled by the Orphans' Court. To obtain original probate records, contact the Orphan's Court in the County Courthouse.
In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates of decedents, incompetents, and minors; appointment and control of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills involving probate matters; inheritance tax appeals and various petitions and motions.
Online Probate Indexes
- 1626-1836 – Pennsylvania Wills, 1626-1836 on Ancestry. Taken from Fernow, Berthold, comp. and ed. "Calendar of Wills." New York, NY, USA: 1896. - ($).
- 1878-1939 – Will Index, Lackawanna County, located on PAGenWeb - also includes deceased's death date
- 1626-1836 – Pennsylvania Wills, 1626-1836 on Ancestry. Taken from Fernow, Berthold, comp. and ed. "Calendar of Wills." New York, NY, USA: 1896. - ($).
Online Probate Records
Original probate records for some Pennsylvania counties are available free online as digital images at FamilySearch . The dates vary significantly for each county and not all counties are listed. Some counties may only have probate indexes. This Pennsylvania collection of images may be browsed through the links listed below:
Complete Collection:
- 1683-1994 – Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994 at FamilySearch
Berks County Only:
- 1752–1915 – Berks County Probate Records
- 1752–1915 – Berks County Probate Records
Original Probate Records on Microfilm
- 1752–1860 – Wills FS Library film 20722 (first of 8 films) - Index included: 1752-1915
- 1752-1851 – Administration Letters and Bonds FS Library film 20812 (first of 8 films) - Index included: 1752 - 1915
- 1752-1915 – Estate Files FS Library film 1644017 (first of 337 films) - Arranged alphabetically by surname
- 1752–1860 – Wills FS Library film 20722 (first of 8 films) - Index included: 1752-1915
Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts
Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Berks County Pennsylvania probate wills in online catalogs like:
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FS Catalog Place-name Search).