FamilySearch Wiki:Wiki Project Pennsylvania/Tasks-Probate Records on FamilySearch.org
WikiProject Pennsylvania 
Progress Chart Pennsylvania Wiki Project Task - Probate Records on FamilySearch.org
Task
Wiki Project Pennsylvania Tasks - Probate Records on FamilySearch.org
Description
Add links for Pennsylvania probate records located on Historical Records (located on FamilySearch.org) to the Probate Records heading on the county page.
Instructions
1. Click on Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994 and check to see if your county is listed. If it is not, you are done with the task.
2. If your county is listed, copy the following and paste it in wikitext after any database indexes listed under the Probate Records heading (if there are no databases, paste it in after the PA Probate Intro template):
- '''Online Probate Records'''<br>
- '''Online Probate Records'''<br>
- 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:<br>
- 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:<br>
- Complete Collection:<br>
- Complete Collection:<br>
- :*'''1683-1994''' – {{RecordSearch|1999196|Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994}} at FamilySearch <br>
- :*'''1683-1994''' – {{RecordSearch|1999196|Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994}} at FamilySearch <br>
3. Copy and paste the following directly below what you pasted in #2:
- Berks County Only: <br>
- :*'''1752–1915''' – [https://www.familysearch.org/search/image/index#uri=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.familysearch.org%2Frecords%2Fwaypoint%2FMM5Y-7N2%3A288123488%3Fcc%3D1999196 Berks County Probate Records]<br>
- :*'''1752–1915''' – [https://www.familysearch.org/search/image/index#uri=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.familysearch.org%2Frecords%2Fwaypoint%2FMM5Y-7N2%3A288123488%3Fcc%3D1999196 Berks County Probate Records]<br>
4. In the wikitext entry you pasted in #3, replace the word "Berks" in both places with your county name.
5. Next click here and click then click on your county.
6. On this webpage, copy the link for this county and replace the url in the wititext entry you pasted in #3.
7. From the same webpage determine the dates the probate records cover in this county and replace the 1752-1915 with these new dates. We suggest you put only the dates of the records and not indexes. Make sure the dates are in bold.
Example
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
Example of Completed Probate Records Heading
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).