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| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]] | |||
| link2=[[United States Probate Records|U.S. Probate Records]] | |||
| link3=[[Vermont, United States Genealogy|Vermont]] | |||
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| link5=[[Vermont Probate Records|Probate Records]] | |||
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|{{Vermont Probate Record}} | |||
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==Online Resources== | |||
*'''1749-1999''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9084/ Vermont, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1749-1999] at Ancestry - index & images ($) | |||
* '''1800-1921''' {{RecordSearch|1435692|Vermont Probate Files, 1800-1921}} at FamilySearch - [[Vermont Probate Files - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images | |||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/full-text Full-Text Search - Probate Records] at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P00oMDsAsSw How to Search] | |||
== Record Synopsis | ===Record Synopsis=== | ||
Probate is the “court procedure by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid” and encompasses “all matters and proceedings pertaining to the administration of estates, guardianships, etc.”<ref>Henry Campbell Black, ''Black's Law Dictionary,'' 5th ed. (St. Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Co., 1979), 1081, "probate."</ref> Genealogists often refer to 'Probate Records' as "All records which relate to the disposition of an estate," whether the person died leaving a will (testate) or not (intestate).<ref>Val. D. Greenwood, ''The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy,'' 3rd ed. (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2000), 309.</ref> | Probate is the “court procedure by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid” and encompasses “all matters and proceedings pertaining to the administration of estates, guardianships, etc.”<ref>Henry Campbell Black, ''Black's Law Dictionary,'' 5th ed. (St. Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Co., 1979), 1081, "probate."</ref> Genealogists often refer to 'Probate Records' as "All records which relate to the disposition of an estate," whether the person died leaving a will (testate) or not (intestate).<ref>Val. D. Greenwood, ''The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy,'' 3rd ed. (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2000), 309.</ref> | ||
Various types of records | Various types of records may be found in probate files. These may include, wills, guardianships, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, depositions, decrees, and distributions. These documents are extremely valuable to genealogists and should not be neglected. In many instances, they are the only known source of relevant information such as the decedent’s date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their places of residence. They may also include information about adoption or guardianship of minor children and dependents. | ||
For further information about the probate process, types of probate records, analyzing probate records, and to access a glossary of probate terms, see [ | For further information about the probate process, types of probate records, analyzing probate records, and to access a glossary of probate terms, see [[United States Probate Records]]. | ||
*See also Ann D. Watson '' Vermont Probate Research'' NGS Magazine 48 #2 (April-June, 2022): 46- FS Library 973 D25ngs v40 no. 2 | |||
== History | ===History=== | ||
A general knowledge of Vermont history is essential to understanding Vermont probate records because that helps us know where the records were kept at various times. The territory we now recognize as Vermont was first inhabited by Europeans during the mid 1600s. The 1666 establishment of Fort Sainte Anne on the Isle La Motte is considered to be the first permanent European settlement. Non-French settlers began exploring and inhabiting the Vermont region towards the end of the 17th century. The first British settlement, Fort Dummer, was built in 1724. Before long, conflict over the frontier region erupted between the two nations. As a result of France’s defeat in the French and Indian War, Britain gained control over the entire region. Only a few European people settled in Vermont before 1724.<br> | A general knowledge of Vermont history is essential to understanding Vermont probate records because that helps us know where the records were kept at various times. The territory we now recognize as Vermont was first inhabited by Europeans during the mid 1600s. The 1666 establishment of Fort Sainte Anne on the Isle La Motte is considered to be the first permanent European settlement. Non-French settlers began exploring and inhabiting the Vermont region towards the end of the 17th century. The first British settlement, Fort Dummer, was built in 1724. Before long, conflict over the frontier region erupted between the two nations. As a result of France’s defeat in the French and Indian War, Britain gained control over the entire region. Only a few European people settled in Vermont before 1724.<br> | ||
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'''Today''' Vermont has 14 counties and 18 probate districts. The four southern counties (Bennington, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor) still have two probate courts each. The remaining counties each have one probate district who's jurisdiction is confined to the current county boundaries.<br> | '''Today''' Vermont has 14 counties and 18 probate districts. The four southern counties (Bennington, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor) still have two probate courts each. The remaining counties each have one probate district who's jurisdiction is confined to the current county boundaries.<br> | ||
== State Statutes | ===State Statutes=== | ||
Vermont probate courts are responsible for wills, inventories, estates, guardianships, name changes, adoptions, and relinquishments. | Vermont probate courts are responsible for wills, inventories, estates, guardianships, name changes, adoptions, and relinquishments. | ||
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Adoption cases over 99 years old are open to the public. <br> | Adoption cases over 99 years old are open to the public. <br> | ||
== Repositories | ===Repositories=== | ||
==== Local | ====Local==== | ||
* | *[http://www.vermontjudiciary.org/GTC/probate/default.aspx Vermont probate district courthouses]. The district offices maintain original probate files as well as card indexes of the decedents. | ||
==== Regional | ====Regional==== | ||
*The [ | *The [http://library.nehgs.org/ New England Historic Genealogical Society] located in the heart of downtown Boston, Massachusetts has pre-1850 Vermont probate records available on microfilm. The society's R. Stanton Avery Special Collections Department also houses two manuscript indexes to early probate records for the Rutland (Rutland County) and Randolph (Orange County) districts. | ||
====National==== | |||
*The [[FamilySearch Library|Family History Library]] located in Salt Lake City, Utah has pre-1850 Vermont probate records available on microfilm. For collection details see the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog]. Use the "Place Search" option to search for a specific Vermont county. Then look for topics labeled "Probate Records" or "Guardianship." | |||
===Statewide Record Collections=== | |||
*'''1800-1921''' {{RecordSearch|1435692|Vermont Probate Files, 1800-1921}} at FamilySearch - [[Vermont Probate Files - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; images and index, has digital images of originals housed in the county probate courts in Vermont. Currently only the counties of Chittenden and Essex are available in this database. Additional counties will be added later. | |||
===Online Resources=== | |||
== Online Resources | |||
'''Wiki articles describing online FamilySearch collections are found at:''' | '''Wiki articles describing online FamilySearch collections are found at:''' | ||
*[[Vermont, Bennington County, Manchester District, Probates | *[[Vermont, Bennington County, Manchester District, Probates - FamilySearch Historical Records|Vermont, Bennington County, Manchester District Estate Files - FamilySearch Historical Records]] | ||
*[[Vermont, Franklin County Probates | *[[Vermont, Franklin County Probates - FamilySearch Historical Records|Vermont, Franklin County Probates - FamilySearch Historical Records]] | ||
*[[Vermont Probate Records and Estate Files | *[[Vermont Probate Records and Estate Files - FamilySearch Historical Records|Vermont Probate Records and Estate Files - FamilySearch Historical Records]] [[Vermont, Washington County, Probate Estate Files - FamilySearch Historical Records]] | ||
*[[Vermont, Washington County, Probate Estate Files | *[[Vermont, Washington County, Probate Estate Files - FamilySearch Historical Records|Vermont, Washington County Probate Estate Files - FamilySearch Historical Records]] | ||
*[[Vermont, Windham County, Westminster District Probates | *[[Vermont, Windham County, Westminster District Probates - FamilySearch Historical Records]] | ||
== Additional Helps | ===Additional Helps=== | ||
==== Published Materials | ====Published Materials==== | ||
*Bartley, Scott Andrew. "A Guide to Genealogical Research in Vermont." ''New England Ancestors,'' Summer 2007. ({{ | *Bartley, Scott Andrew. "A Guide to Genealogical Research in Vermont." ''New England Ancestors,'' Summer 2007. ({{FSC|974 D25nea v. 8}}.) | ||
*Bartley, Scott Andrew. "[http://www.americanancestors.org/adoption-by-law/ Adoption by Law]." [Online | *Bartley, Scott Andrew. "[http://www.americanancestors.org/adoption-by-law/ Adoption by Law]." [Online Articl.... AmericanAncestors.org, 2010. Available only to members of American Ancestors. | ||
*Bartley, Scott Andrew. "[http://www.americanancestors.org/vermont-probate-records/ Vermont Probate Records]." [Online | *Bartley, Scott Andrew. "[http://www.americanancestors.org/vermont-probate-records/ Vermont Probate Records]." [Online Articl.... AmericanAncestors.org. 11 April 2003. Available only to members of American Ancestors. | ||
*Eichholz, Alice. ''Collecting Vermont Ancestors''. Montpelier, Vermont: New Trails, 1986. ({{ | *Eichholz, Alice. ''Collecting Vermont Ancestors''. Montpelier, Vermont: New Trails, 1986. ({{FSC|974.3 D27e}}.) ([http://www.worldcat.org/title/collecting-vermont-ancestors/oclc/14186367&referer=brief_results WorldCat entr...). | ||
*Leclerc, Michael J., ed. ''Genealogist's Handbook for New England Research'', 5th ed. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, c2012. This helpful guide contains addresses for each of the Vermont probate district courts. ([http://www.worldcat.org/title/genealogists-handbook-for-new-england-research/oclc/42829198&referer=brief_results WorldCat | *Leclerc, Michael J., ed. ''Genealogist's Handbook for New England Research'', 5th ed. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, c2012. This helpful guide contains addresses for each of the Vermont probate district courts. ([http://www.worldcat.org/title/genealogists-handbook-for-new-england-research/oclc/42829198&referer=brief_results WorldCat entr...). ({{FSC|1967587|item|disp=FS Catalog book 974 D27g 2012}}). | ||
==== Websites | ====Websites==== | ||
*[http://www.vermontjudiciary.org Vermont Judiciary.org] | *[http://www.vermontjudiciary.org Vermont Judiciary.org] The official Web site of the Vermont Judiciary. The site provides useful information about the Vermont court system, including the [http://www.vermontjudiciary.org/GTC/probate/default.aspx Vermont Probate Court]. Resources include address and telephone number for each probate court, information about guardianships and adoptions, answers to frequently asked questions, etc. Maps and travel directions to [http://www.vermontjudiciary.org/MasterPages/Fav-Courtdirections.aspx Vermont probate courts]. | ||
{{Wikipedia|Vermont_court_system}} | {{Wikipedia|Vermont_court_system}} | ||
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*[http://www.michie.com/ Michie's Legal Resources]. An excellent online resource for current [http://www.michie.com/vermont/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&2.0 Vermont court rules and statutes]. | *[http://www.michie.com/ Michie's Legal Resources]. An excellent online resource for current [http://www.michie.com/vermont/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&2.0 Vermont court rules and statutes]. | ||
== References | ===References=== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
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{{Vermont2|Vermont}} | {{Vermont2|Vermont}} | ||
[[Category:Vermont| | [[Category:Vermont, United States|Probat...][[Category:Adoptio...] | ||
[[Category:United_States_Probate_Records]] | |||