Minnesota, Will Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
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| This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org. | |
| Minnesota, United States | |
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| Flag of Minnesota | |
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| Location of Minnesota | |
| Record Description | |
| Record Type | Wills |
| Collection years | 1849-1985 |
| FamilySearch Resources | |
| Related Websites | |
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| Archive | |
| Minnesota Historical Society | |
What is in This Collection?
The collection contains index & images of will books created by the probate court for the counties of the territory and state of Minnesota. Some testators who resided outside of Minnesota recorded their wills in these probate courts. The counties of Hennepin, Marshall, and St. Louis are not in this collection.
This project was indexed in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society. You may request copies of the records on the Will Book Record Request page. There is a fee for this service.
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.
What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
- Testator's name
- Spouse's name
- Heirs names and residences
- Executor, administrator, or guardians names
- Witnesses names
- Residence of testator
- Dates of creation, registration and administration
Collection Content
Inventory
Records from the following counties and dates are included in this collection.
- Atkin, 1884-1979
- Anoka, 1861-1971
- Becker, 1908-1981
- Beltrami, 1897-1981
- Benton, 1851-1977
- Big Stone, 1886-1984
- Blue Earth, 1858-1962
- Brown, 1858-1965
- Carlton,1880-1981
- Carver, 1857-1981
- Cass, 1900-1971
- Chippewa, 1873-1980
- Chisago, 1810-1962
- Clay,1817-1981
- Clearwater,1902-1982
- Cook, 1884-1982
- Cottonwood, 1883-1981
- Crow Wing,1878-1967
- Dakota, 1858-1966
- Dodge, 1859-1982
- Douglas, 1867-1982
- Faribault,1858-1982
- Fillmore, 1858-1965
- Freeborn, 1857-1974
- Goodhue, 1860-1982
- Grant, 1884-1955
- Houston, 1856-1952
- Hubbard, 1882-1981
- Isanti, 1875-1973
- Itasca, 1898-1918
- Jackson, 1880-1918
- Kanabec, 1885-1918
- Kandiyohi, 1889-1918
- Kittson, 1882-1918
- Koochiching, 1907-1918
- Lac Qui Parle, 1876-1918
- Lake, 1890-1918
- Lake of the Woods, 1858-1962
- Le Sueur, 1918
- Lincoln, 1885-1918
- Lyon, 1884-1918
- Mahnomen, 1907-1918
- Martin, 1869-1918
- McLeod, 1864-1980
- Meeker, 1864-1981
- Mille Lacs, 1882-1982
- Morrison, 1875-1982
- Mower, 1857-1970
- Murray, 1875-1980
- Nicollet, 1858-1960
- Nobles, 1880-1982
- Norman, 1882-1982
- Olmstead, 1855-1964
- Otter Tail, 1875-1983
- Pennington, 1911-1982
- Pine, 1872-1942
- Polk, 1882-1982
- Pope, 1872-1982
- Ramsey, 1849-1887
- Red Lake, 1897-1951
- Redwood, 1898-1981
- Renville, 1873-1976
- Rice,1857-1980
- Rock, 1879-1984
- Roseau, 1897-1967
- Scott,1857-1970
- Sherburne, 1858-1959
- Sibley,1857-1982
- Stearns,1864-1982
- Steele, 1858-1984
- Stevens, 1858-1962
- Swift, 1881-1982
- Todd,1872-1975
- Traverse, 1882-1979
- Wabasha, 1856-1974
- Wadena, 1918-1979
- Waseca, 1886-1979
- Washington, 1849-1965
- Watonwan, 1895-1981
- Wilkin, 1887-1982
- Winona, 1856-1971
- Wright, 1866-1982
- Yellow Medicine, 1882-1985
How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching the collection, it is helpful to know:
- The name of the deceased
- The approximate death or probate date
- The place of residence
Search the Index
Search by name on the Collection Details Page.- Enter the information in the fields in the Search Collection section or click More Options to see additional fields
- Click Search to show possible matches
| Tip: More images are available in the FamilySearch Catalog at Minnesota, Will Records, 1849-1985. Some catalog records link to multiple references. In this case, click on a reference to find a camera icon to see 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
- If available, check the image for additional information
- Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family
- Record entries for other people with the same surname to identify possible relationships
I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?
- The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
- Try searching by surname only
- Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century
- If available, search another collection for the locality
Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in Minnesota.Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.
FamilySearch Catalog
FamilySearch Historical Records
- Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002
- Minnesota Deaths and Burials, 1835-1990
- Minnesota Deaths, 1887-2001
- Minnesota, County Deaths, 1850-2001
- Minnesota, Obituaries 1865-2006
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. |