Samoa Probate Records
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Probate records are court records that describe the distribution of an individual’s estate after he or she dies. Information in the records may include the death date, names of heirs and guardians, relationships, residences, an inventory of the estate, and names of witnesses.
An individual who left a will is said to have died "testate." Someone who did not leave a will (or a valid will) died "intestate." The probate process is essentially the same for both and may take many years to complete.
Availability of Probate Records
The FamilySearch Library has a solid collection of probate records from Samoa. Probate records are listed in the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under:
SAMOA - PROBATE RECORDS
Additional sources available at the FamilySearch Library are:
American Samoa (Territory) Registrar of Vital Statistics: Death Certificates, 1916-1923 (FS Library International films 1083510 - 1083512 and International Vault films 1083513 - 1083520).
American Samoa, High Court Probate Records, 1902-1961: Probate cases, no. 1-7 (FS Library International film 1084787), and Probate cases, no. 7-37, Wills, 1906-1961 (FS Library International Vault film 1084787 and International film 1084788).
Estate of Jane S. Foster (FS Library International Valut film 1083311).
Matai Title Court Files, 1902-1973 (FS Library International Vault films 108334 - 18350, 108374, and 108383 - 108393).