FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Pennsylvania/Tasks-Probate USGenWeb

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WikiProject Pennsylvania Gotoarrow.png Progress Chart Gotoarrow.png Pennsylvania Wiki Project Task - Probate USGenWeb

Task[edit | edit source]

Wiki Project Pennsylvania Tasks - Probate USGenWeb Task

Description[edit | edit source]

Search pertinent probate dtabases located on the county PAGenWeb page and add them to the county page.

Instructions[edit | edit source]

1. Click on PAGenweb

2. Click on your county. Once on the page, investigate the website thoroughly to see if there are databases listed for Probate records including wills and administrations. Do not be surprised if none are found.

3. If no databases are found, you have completed the task.

4. If you locate is a database, examine each link to determine:

a. If the link works. If it doesn't do not include.
b. Examine the information in the database to see if it is worth listing on the wiki. It will be your decision as to if it is worthwhile to list the database on the county page.

5. If the database looks helpful and it has not already been added, add the following after the Probate Records heading and the PA Probate Intro:

'''Online Probate Indexes'''<br>

6. Under your new heading, list the database(s) in chronological and then alphabetical order (if there are other databases on the county page) in the following manner:

:*[http://www.pagenweb.org/~luzerne/wills/willindex.htm Luzerne County, Will Book 1], located on [http://www.pagenweb.org/ PAGenWeb] - also includes year will was probated and residence of deceased<br>

7. If there is information about the database that you would like to add (i.e., index only, not complete, etc), add it to the end of entry.

8. If there are dates listed in the title of the database, repeat the dates just after the bullet in bold:

:*'''1878-1939''' - [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~palackaw/wills/index.html Will Index, Lackawanna County], located on [http://www.pagenweb.org/ PAGenWeb] - also includes deceased's death date

9. Once you have added them, save the page and you are finished with the task.

Example[edit | edit source]

Online Probate Indexes

Example of Completed Probate Records Heading[edit | edit source]

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

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:

Berks County Only:

Original Probate Records on Microfilm

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:

This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

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