Iceland Probate Records


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Probate Records (Skiptabækur)

These records contain wills, testaments, and settlements of estates. They contain the name of the deceased, heirs, guardians, ages, relationships, places of residence; inventory, valuation, and division of real estate and property. The earliest records date from 1717; most date from the late 1700s to present. Earliest records are at the National Archives in Reykjavik. volumes still in use are found at local court. Some records are also found in the National Archives of Denmark. Probate records are good linkage sources, especially helpful where they predate the church records. They can be used to establish birth dates and establish relationships of family members.

Orphans' Court Records (Yfirfjárvadabækur)

Records give orphans and guardians, names of parents; ages or dates of birth for orphans, residence, relationships. Most date from the 1848 to present.