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==Resources== | ==Resources== | ||
===Online Resources=== | ===Online Resources=== | ||
*See county and parish level for more | *See county and parish level for more resources. | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
Probate records are court records that describe the distribution of a person’s estate after his or her death. Because laws determined which heirs got what percentage of an estate, it was often not necessary to write wills; consequently, usually only the upper classes wrote them. | Probate records are court records that describe the distribution of a person’s estate after his or her death. Because laws determined which heirs got what percentage of an estate, it was often not necessary to write wills; consequently, usually only the upper classes wrote them. | ||
'''District probate courts (''kihlakunnanoikeus/ häradsrätt''):''' oversaw the process and kept the records. Probate records may be found in these courts. Probate records may also be found among the church records of many parishes. These records, listed as ''perunkirjat'', are duplicates of the district court records. To find which district court a particular parish belonged to, use the map on page 34 of the following book: | |||
*Jutikkala, Eino. ''Suomen historian kartasto = Atlas of Finnish History.'' Porvoo, Finland : WSOY, 1949. {{FSC|421984|item|disp=FS Catalog book 948.97 E3j}}(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images | |||
===Probate Process=== | ===Probate Process=== | ||
After a person died, two appraisers usually visited the house and made an inventory and appraisal of the property. In addition, creditors listed their claims against the estate. A probate official then deducted the debts and court fees from the assets. If money was left over, it was divided up among the heirs. The widow usually received half of the estate. The remainder was divided equally among the children. Boys were allotted double the girls’ portion. | After a person died, two appraisers usually visited the house and made an inventory and appraisal of the property. In addition, creditors listed their claims against the estate. A probate official then deducted the debts and court fees from the assets. If money was left over, it was divided up among the heirs. The widow usually received half of the estate. The remainder was divided equally among the children. Boys were allotted double the girls’ portion. | ||
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===Coverage and Compliance=== | ===Coverage and Compliance=== | ||
The keeping of wills and estate papers usually date from the mid-eighteenth century. Probate proceedings were held from 1734 on. | The keeping of wills and estate papers usually date from the mid-eighteenth century. Probate proceedings were held from 1734 on. | ||
==Information Recorded in the Records== | ==Information Recorded in the Records== | ||
Information includes the name of the deceased person, death date, names of heirs and guardians, relationships, residences, an inventory and appraisal of the estate, a list of the deceased’s debts, and names of assessors. | Information includes the name of the deceased person, death date, names of heirs and guardians, relationships, residences, an inventory and appraisal of the estate, a list of the deceased’s debts, and names of assessors. | ||
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