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Nordic Probate Records: Difference between revisions
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Since the law did define the parameters of distribution, there were very few wills in the traditional sense of the words, which could be written by your common Scandinavian ancestors. | Since the law did define the parameters of distribution, there were very few wills in the traditional sense of the words, which could be written by your common Scandinavian ancestors. | ||
Note: In all the Scandinavian countries, probates for the clergy were normally kept separately from those of the "common man." They might be listed at the parish or Herred/Härad level, but within the catalog entry it should be indicated that the probates are those of the clergy only. | Note: In all the Scandinavian countries, probates for the clergy were normally kept separately from those of the "common man." They might be listed at the parish or Herred/Härad level, but within the catalog entry it should be indicated that the probates are those of the clergy only. | ||
===Who left a Probate?=== | === Who left a Probate? === | ||
A probate proceeding should have taken place: | A probate proceeding should have taken place: | ||
*Before a surviving spouse could remarry. | |||
*Before a surviving spouse could remarry. | |||
*If there were any minors (under age 25) involved. | *If there were any minors (under age 25) involved. | ||
*Elderly parents chose to make a life probate (turning their property over to someone else in return for care for the rest of their natural lives). | *Elderly parents chose to make a life probate (turning their property over to someone else in return for care for the rest of their natural lives). | ||
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A probate did not have to take place if the parents were elderly, the children all over age 25, or everything had already been dispersed. | A probate did not have to take place if the parents were elderly, the children all over age 25, or everything had already been dispersed. | ||
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===Scandinavian probate records generally contain the following:=== | === Scandinavian probate records generally contain the following: === | ||
*Name and residence of deceased | *Name and residence of deceased | ||
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**Personal items (clothes, hats, scarves, socks, boots) | **Personal items (clothes, hats, scarves, socks, boots) | ||
**Precious metals (gold, silver, copper, brass, tin) | **Precious metals (gold, silver, copper, brass, tin) | ||
**Tools (axes, shovels, tongs, hammers, pitchforks, etc.) | **Tools (axes, shovels, tongs, hammers, pitchforks, etc.) | ||
*Creditors' names and amounts | *Creditors' names and amounts | ||
*Totals of credits, debts, inheritances | *Totals of credits, debts, inheritances | ||
*Signatures or marks of probate official, appraisers, guardian(s), and heirs | *Signatures or marks of probate official, appraisers, guardian(s), and heirs | ||
*Dates of final probate action taken on the estate | *Dates of final probate action taken on the estate | ||
If the estate debts were greater than the assets, auctions were held to sell off items to raise money to pay the debts. | If the estate debts were greater than the assets, auctions were held to sell off items to raise money to pay the debts. | ||
=== Points to remember when using probate records as a research source === | === Points to remember when using probate records as a research source === | ||
*A probate action generally took place at the next quarterly court session held after the death, though sealing and inventorying of the estate normally took place within thirty days. | *A probate action generally took place at the next quarterly court session held after the death, though sealing and inventorying of the estate normally took place within thirty days. | ||
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The signatures at the end of the probate may be the actual signature of your deceased ancestor's wife, oldest son, daughter, etc. Or, you may find their mark in the middle of a signature, such as "Maren MSD Sørensdatter." The name would be written out by the minister and the "MSD" (Maren Sørens Datter) could be the mark made by your actual ancestor. | The signatures at the end of the probate may be the actual signature of your deceased ancestor's wife, oldest son, daughter, etc. Or, you may find their mark in the middle of a signature, such as "Maren MSD Sørensdatter." The name would be written out by the minister and the "MSD" (Maren Sørens Datter) could be the mark made by your actual ancestor. | ||
It is possible that if a child had already received an inheritance, they might not be listed in the probate record. It is also possible, particularly in Swedish and Finnish probates, which are basically inventories, that only minor children may listed. | |||
===Probate Terminology=== | |||
{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" style="width: 99%; height: 100px;" | |||
|- | |||
| | |||
| | |||
myndig | |||
umyndig, ömyndig | |||
med döden avlid | |||
gjør vitterligt | |||
boende og døde ved | |||
var til stede | |||
før die unmyndige wegen | |||
laugværge, formyndar | |||
skifteprotokoll, boupteckning | |||
| | |||
of legal age | |||
under legal age | |||
with death left | |||
be it known that | |||
resided and died at | |||
was present at the probate hearing | |||
in behalf of the minor | |||
widow's guardian | |||
guardian | |||
probate | |||
|} | |||
[[Category:Scandinavia]] | [[Category:Scandinavia]] | ||