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Australia Probate Records: Difference between revisions
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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. | 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. | 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=== | === Availability of Probate Records === | ||
Wills or probate records were kept by each state in Australia, beginning in the 1800s. If the deceased had property in another country, the will may have been probated in the other country. | Wills or probate records were kept by each state in Australia, beginning in the 1800s. If the deceased had property in another country, the will may have been probated in the other country. | ||
The Family History Library has a solid collection of probate records from Australia; however, many of them cannot be circulated to Family History Centers. Probate records are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under: | The Family History Library has a solid collection of probate records from Australia; however, many of them cannot be circulated to Family History Centers. Probate records are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under: | ||
AUSTRALIA, [STATE]- PROBATE RECORDS | AUSTRALIA, [STATE]- PROBATE RECORDS | ||
The address of the probate offices for the individual states are: | The address of the probate offices for the individual states are: | ||
=== New South Wales === | |||
Records begin in 1800. | |||
:Supreme Court of New South Wales<br>Probate Division<br>G.P.O. Box 3<br>Sydney<br>New South Wales 2000<br>AUSTRALIA <br>Internet: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/sc | :Supreme Court of New South Wales<br>Probate Division<br>G.P.O. Box 3<br>Sydney<br>New South Wales 2000<br>AUSTRALIA <br>Internet: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/sc | ||
The Archives Office of New South Wales (see the "[[Australia Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]]" article for address) holds copies of some wills and some indexes. | The Archives Office of New South Wales (see the "[[Australia Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]]" article for address) holds copies of some wills and some indexes. | ||
=== Victoria === | |||
Records begin in 1841. | |||
:Registrar of Probates<br>Probate and Administration Office<br>471 Little Bourke Street<br>Melbourne<br>Victoria 3000<br>AUSTRALIA <br>Internet: http://www.archivists.org.au/directory/data/326.htm | :Registrar of Probates<br>Probate and Administration Office<br>471 Little Bourke Street<br>Melbourne<br>Victoria 3000<br>AUSTRALIA <br>Internet: http://www.archivists.org.au/directory/data/326.htm | ||
Some records are also held by the Public Record Office of Victoria (see the "[[Australia Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]]" article this wiki for address). | Some records are also held by the Public Record Office of Victoria (see the "[[Australia Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]]" article this wiki for address). | ||
===Queensland=== | === Queensland === | ||
Three district courts—records begin as early as 1857; prior to 1859, probate was under the jurisdiction of New South Wales | |||
Three district courts—records begin as early as 1857; prior to 1859, probate was under the jurisdiction of New South Wales | |||
:The Registrar<br>Southern District<br>Supreme Court of Queensland<br>George Street<br>Brisbane<br>Queensland 4000<br>AUSTRALIA <br>Internet: http://www.judywebster.gil.com.au/tips-qld.html | :The Registrar<br>Southern District<br>Supreme Court of Queensland<br>George Street<br>Brisbane<br>Queensland 4000<br>AUSTRALIA <br>Internet: http://www.judywebster.gil.com.au/tips-qld.html | ||
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:The Registrar<br>Central District<br>Supreme Court of Queensland<br>East Street<br>Rockhampton<br>Queensland 4700<br>AUSTRALIA <br>Internet: http://www.judywebster.gil.com.au/tips-qld.html | :The Registrar<br>Central District<br>Supreme Court of Queensland<br>East Street<br>Rockhampton<br>Queensland 4700<br>AUSTRALIA <br>Internet: http://www.judywebster.gil.com.au/tips-qld.html | ||
The Queensland State Archives (see the "[[Australia Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]]" article in this wiki for address) holds early records as well as some indexes. | The Queensland State Archives (see the "[[Australia Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]]" article in this wiki for address) holds early records as well as some indexes. | ||
=== South Australia === | |||
Records begin in 1832. | |||
:Probate Office<br>Stirling Gardens<br>Barrack Street<br>Perth<br>Western Australia 6000<br>AUSTRALIA <br>Internet: http://www.courts.sa.gov.au/courts/supreme/content.html | :Probate Office<br>Stirling Gardens<br>Barrack Street<br>Perth<br>Western Australia 6000<br>AUSTRALIA <br>Internet: http://www.courts.sa.gov.au/courts/supreme/content.html | ||
===Tasmania | === Tasmania === | ||
Records begin in 1824. | |||
:Probate Registry<br>Supreme Court of Tasmania<br>Salamanca Place<br>Hobart<br>Tasmania 7000<br>AUSTRALIA <br>Internet: http://www.courts.tas.gov.au/supreme/ | :Probate Registry<br>Supreme Court of Tasmania<br>Salamanca Place<br>Hobart<br>Tasmania 7000<br>AUSTRALIA <br>Internet: http://www.courts.tas.gov.au/supreme/ | ||
===Australian Capital Territory | === Australian Capital Territory === | ||
Records begin in 1911. | |||
:Registrar of Probate<br>Law Courts of the Australian Capital Territory<br>1st Floor<br>Knowles Place<br>Canberra City<br>Australian Capital Territory 2601<br>AUSTRALIA <br>Internet: http://www.courts.act.gov.au/ | :Registrar of Probate<br>Law Courts of the Australian Capital Territory<br>1st Floor<br>Knowles Place<br>Canberra City<br>Australian Capital Territory 2601<br>AUSTRALIA <br>Internet: http://www.courts.act.gov.au/ | ||
===Northern Territory | === Northern Territory === | ||
Records begin in 1911. | |||
:Registrar of Probates<br>Supreme Court of the Northern Territory<br>Law Courts Building<br>Mitchell Street<br>Darwin<br>Northern Territory 0800<br>AUSTRALIA <br>Internet: http://www.nt.gov.au/ntsc/ | :Registrar of Probates<br>Supreme Court of the Northern Territory<br>Law Courts Building<br>Mitchell Street<br>Darwin<br>Northern Territory 0800<br>AUSTRALIA <br>Internet: http://www.nt.gov.au/ntsc/ | ||
[[Category:Australia]] | [[Category:Australia]] | ||