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===United States County Wiki Articles===
Guide to locating probate records for ancestry, family history, and genealogy research.
Instructions and links for probate records '''in the United States''' are best found on '''individual county pages''' in the Wiki.  
 
Outside the United Staes fewer probate records have been microfilmed, digitized, and published online, so they may need to be used in local and regional archives. Find the Probate Records article for the country of interest to learn details.
 
{|
__TOC__
==Online Resources==
*'''''To access probate records for a specific county use the [[Probate Records#How do you find Probate Records?|links to country pages]] below.'''''
 
==What are probate records?==
*Probate is the '''legal process distributing real estate (property) and personal estate (possessions) to a person's heirs'''.
*'''Testate''' is the term used when a will existed. '''Intestate''' means there was no will, and the court '''administers''' and distributes the estate.
*Other documents may be found in the '''full probate packet'''.
*Probate records are '''available for only about 10% of families''', usually landowners and the wealthy. Most farmers, merchants, and artisans did not own their own farms or shops and did not leave wills.
*Probate records often pre-date other birth and death records.
*Wills are '''found in the town or county''' where the person lived when the will was made or where they died.
*Probate records may include the deceased's date of death; names, relationships, residences of heirs and guardians; and names of witnesses.
*Most wills were left by males with property; however, wills often list the names of the deceased's family and friends, so that many more people are listed in probate records than actually left them.
 
==What can you find in probate records?==
Information recorded may include:
*the death date
*names of heirs
*family members
*guardians
*relationships
*residences
*inventories of the estate (including trade and household goods)
*names of witnesses
*names of executors
 
==How do you find Probate Records?==
===United States===
*Probate records are kept on the county level for most of the United States and any online records will be found in the corresponding county Wiki pages.
*For general information about probate records, see [[United States Probate Records|United States Probate Records]]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/textprototype/ United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search] at FamilySearch - try this index to probate records for the United States.
*''Select a State then go to the clickable map to select the county your ancestor died in.''
 
{| style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
|-
|style="border:solid black 2px; padding:10px; vertical-align:top"|
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right="5px"; width: 70%">
<center> <span style="color:DarkViolet">'''An example of probate instructions and links on a United States county Wiki page.'''</span><center>
  <li>[[Alabama, United States Genealogy|Alabama]]</li>
[[File:County probate.png|900px]]
  <li>[[Alaska, United States Genealogy|Alaska]]</li>
  <li>[[Arizona, United States Genealogy|Arizona]]</li>
  <li>[[Arkansas, United States Genealogy|Arkansas]]</li>
  <li>[[California, United States Genealogy|California]]</li>
  <li>[[Colorado, United States Genealogy|Colorado]]</li>
  <li>[[Connecticut, United States Genealogy|Connecticut]]</li>
  <li>[[Delaware, United States Genealogy|Delaware]]</li>
  <li>[[Florida, United States Genealogy|Florida]]</li>
  <li>[[Georgia, United States Genealogy|Georgia]]</li>
  <li>[[Hawaii, United States Genealogy|Hawaii]]</li>
  <li>[[Idaho, United States Genealogy|Idaho]]</li>
  <li>[[Illinois, United States Genealogy|Illinois]]</li>
  <li>[[Indiana, United States Genealogy|Indiana]]</li>
  <li>[[Iowa, United States Genealogy|Iowa]]</li>
  <li>[[Kansas, United States Genealogy|Kansas]]</li>
  <li>[[Kentucky, United States Genealogy|Kentucky]]</li>
  <li>[[Louisiana, United States Genealogy|Louisiana]]</li>
  <li>[[Maine, United States Genealogy|Maine]]</li>
  <li>[[Maryland, United States Genealogy|Maryland]]</li>
  <li>[[Massachusetts, United States Genealogy|Massachusetts]]</li>
  <li>[[Michigan, United States Genealogy|Michigan]]</li>
  <li>[[Minnesota, United States Genealogy|Minnesota]]</li>
  <li>[[Mississippi, United States Genealogy|Mississippi]]</li>
  <li>[[Missouri, United States Genealogy|Missouri]]</li>
  <li>[[Montana, United States Genealogy|Montana]]</li>
  <li>[[Nebraska, United States Genealogy|Nebraska]]</li>
  <li>[[Nevada, United States Genealogy|Nevada]]</li>
  <li>[[New Hampshire, United States Genealogy|New Hampshire]]</li>
  <li>[[New Jersey, United States Genealogy|New Jersey]]</li>
  <li>[[New Mexico, United States Genealogy|New Mexico]]</li>
  <li>[[New York, United States Genealogy|New York]]</li>
  <li>[[North Carolina, United States Genealogy|North Carolina]]</li>
  <li>[[North Dakota, United States Genealogy|North Dakota]]</li>
  <li>[[Ohio, United States Genealogy|Ohio]]</li>
  <li>[[Oklahoma, United States Genealogy|Oklahoma]]</li>
  <li>[[Oregon, United States Genealogy|Oregon]]</li>
  <li>[[Pennsylvania, United States Genealogy|Pennsylvania]]</li>
  <li>[[Rhode Island, United States Genealogy|Rhode Island]]</li>
  <li>[[South Carolina, United States Genealogy|South Carolina]]</li>
  <li>[[South Dakota, United States Genealogy|South Dakota]]</li>
  <li>[[Tennessee, United States Genealogy|Tennessee]]</li>
  <li>[[Texas, United States Genealogy|Texas]]</li>
  <li>[[Utah, United States Genealogy|Utah]]</li>
  <li>[[Vermont, United States Genealogy|Vermont]]</li>
  <li>[[Virginia, United States Genealogy|Virginia]]</li>
  <li>[[Washington, United States Genealogy|Washington]]</li>
  <li>[[West Virginia, United States Genealogy|West Virginia]]</li>
  <li>[[Wisconsin, United States Genealogy|Wisconsin]]</li>
  <li>[[Wyoming, United States Genealogy|Wyoming]]</li>
</ul>
|}
|}
----
 
===Canada Probate Records===
*Probate records are kept on the county or district level for most of Canada and any online records.
*For general information about probate records, see [[Canada Probate Records|Canada Probate Records]]
*''Select a province then go to the clickable map to select the county or district your ancestor died in.''
{| style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right="5px"; width: 70%">
  <li>[[Alberta Probate Records|Alberta]]</li>
  <li>[[British Columbia Probate Records|British Columbia]]</li>
  <li>[[Manitoba Probate Records|Manitoba]]</li>
  <li>[[New Brunswick Probate Records|New Brunswick]]</li>
  <li>[[Newfoundland and Labrador Probate Records|Newfoundland &amp; Labrador]]</li>
  <li>[[Northwest Territories Probate Records|Northwest Territories]]</li>
  <li>[[Nova Scotia Probate Records|Nova Scotia]]</li>
  <li>[[Nunavut Probate Records|Nunavut]]</li>
  <li>[[Ontario Probate Records|Ontario]]</li>
  <li>[[Prince Edward Island Probate Records|Prince Edward Island]]</li>
  <li>[[Quebec Probate Records|Quebec]]</li>
  <li>[[Saskatchewan Probate Records|Saskatchewan]]</li>
  <li>[[Yukon Probate Records|Yukon]]</li>
</ul>
|}
 
===British Isles===
*Probate records are kept on the county for British Isles countries.
*''Select a country then go to the clickable map to select the county your ancestor died in.''
 
{| style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right="5px"; width: 70%">
<li>[[England Genealogy|England]]</li> 
<li>[[Ireland Genealogy|Ireland, The Republic of]]</li>
<li>[[Isle of Man Genealogy|Isle of Man]]</li>
<li>[[Northern Ireland Genealogy|Northern Ireland]]</li>
<li>[[Scotland Genealogy|Scotland]]</li>
<li>[[Wales Genealogy|Wales]]</li>
<li>[[Guernsey Genealogy|Guernsey]]</li>
<li>[[Jersey Genealogy|Jersey]]</li>
</ul>
|-
|}
 
===Europe===
{| style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right="5px"; width: 70%">
<li>[[Albania Genealogy|Albania]]</li>
<li>[[Andorra Genealogy|Andorra]]</li>
    <li>[[Armenia Genealogy|Armenia]]</li>
    <li>[[Austria Genealogy|Austria]]</li>
<li>[[Azerbaijan Genealogy|Azerbaijan]]
    <li>[[Belarus Genealogy|Belarus]]</li>
    <li>[[Belgium Genealogy|Belgium]]</li>
<li>[[Bosnia and Herzegovina Genealogy|Bosnia and Herzegovina]]</li>
<li>[[Bulgaria Genealogy|Bulgaria]]</li>
<li>[[Croatia Genealogy|Croatia]]</li>
<li>[[Cyprus Genealogy|Cyprus]]</li>
    <li>[[Czechia Genealogy|Czechia]]</li>
<li>[[Denmark Genealogy|Denmark]]</li>
<li>[[Estonia Genealogy|Estonia]]</li>
<li>[[Finland Genealogy|Finland]]</li>
<li>[[France Genealogy|France]]</li>
<li>[[Georgia (country) Genealogy|Georgia]]</li>
<li>[[Gibraltar Genealogy|Gibraltar]]</li>
<li>[[Germany Genealogy|Germany]]</li>
<li>[[Greece Genealogy|Greece]]</li>
<li>[[Hungary Genealogy|Hungary]]</li>
<li>[[Iceland Genealogy|Iceland]]</li>
<li>[[Italy Genealogy|Italy]]</li>
<li>[[Kosovo Genealogy|Kosovo]]</li>
<li>[[Latvia Genealogy|Latvia]]</li>
<li>[[Liechtenstein Genealogy|Liechtenstein]]</li>
<li>[[Lithuania Genealogy|Lithuania]]</li>
<li>[[Luxembourg Genealogy|Luxembourg]]</li>
<li>[[Malta Genealogy|Malta]]</li>
<li>[[Moldova Genealogy|Moldova]]</li>
<li>[[Monaco Genealogy|Monaco]]</li>
<li>[[Montenegro Genealogy|Montenegro]]</li>
<li>[[Netherlands Genealogy|Netherlands]]</li>
<li>[[North Macedonia Genealogy|North Macedonia]]</li>
<li>[[Norway Genealogy|Norway]]</li>
<li>[[Poland Genealogy|Poland]]</li>
<li>[[Portugal Genealogy|Portugal]]</li>
<li>[[Romania Genealogy|Romania]]</li>
<li>[[Russia Genealogy|Russia]]</li>
<li>[[San Marino Genealogy|San Marino]]</li>
<li>[[Serbia Genealogy|Serbia]]</li>
<li>[[Slovakia Genealogy|Slovakia]]</li>
<li>[[Slovenia Genealogy|Slovenia]]</li>
<li>[[Spain Genealogy|Spain]]</li>
<li>[[Sweden Genealogy|Sweden]]</li>
<li>[[Switzerland Genealogy|Switzerland]]</li>
<li>[[Ukraine Genealogy|Ukraine]]</li>
<li>[[Vatican City Genealogy|Vatican City]]</li>
</ul>
 
===Asia===
{| style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right="5px"; width: 70%">
<li>[[Afghanistan Genealogy|Afghanistan]]</li>
<li>[[Bangladesh  Genealogy|Bangladesh]]</li>
<li>[[Brunei  Genealogy|Brunei]]</li>
<li>[[Bhutan Genealogy|Bhutan]]</li>
<li>[[British Indian Ocean Territory Genealogy|British Indian Ocean Territory]]</li>
<li>[[Cambodia Genealogy|Cambodia]]</li>
<li>[[Chinese_Genealogy|China]]</li>
<li>[[East Timor Genealogy|East Timor (Timor-Leste)]]</li>
<li>[[Chinese_Genealogy|Hong Kong]]</li>
<li>[[India Genealogy|India]]</li>
<li>[[Indonesia Genealogy|Indonesia]]</li>
<li>[[Japan Genealogy|Japan]]</li>
<li>[[Kazakhstan Genealogy|Kazakhstan]]</li>
<li>[[Kyrgyzstan Genealogy|Kyrgyzstan]]</li>
<li>[[Laos Genealogy|Laos]]</li>
<li>[[Chinese_Genealogy|Macau]]</li>
<li>[[Malaysia Genealogy|Malaysia]]</li>
<li>[[Maldives Genealogy|Maldives]]</li>
<li>[[Mongolia Genealogy|Mongolia]]</li>
<li>[[Myanmar Genealogy|Myanmar (Burma)]]</li>
<li>[[Nepal Genealogy|Nepal]]</li>
<li>[[North Korea Genealogy|North Korea]]</li>
<li>[[Pakistan Genealogy|Pakistan]]</li>
<li>[[Philippines Genealogy|Philippines]]</li>
<li>[[Singapore Genealogy|Singapore]]</li>
<li>[[South Korea Genealogy|South Korea]]</li>
<li>[[Sri Lanka Genealogy|Sri Lanka]]</li>
<li>[[Chinese_Genealogy|Taiwan]]</li>
<li>[[Tajikistan Genealogy|Tajikistan]]</li>
<li>[[Thailand Genealogy|Thailand]]</li>
<li>[[Turkmenistan Genealogy|Turkmenistan]]</li>
<li>[[Uzbekistan Genealogy|Uzbekistan]]</li>
<li>[[Vietnam Genealogy|Vietnam]]</li>
</ul>
|}
 
===Africa===
{| style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right="5px"; width: 70%">
<li>[[Algeria Genealogy|Algeria]]</li>
<li>[[Angola Genealogy|Angola]]</li>
<li>[[Benin Genealogy|Benin]]</li>
<li>[[Botswana Genealogy|Botswana]]</li>
<li>[[Burkina Faso Genealogy|Burkina Faso]]</li>
<li>[[Burundi Genealogy|Burundi]]</li>
<li>[[Cameroon Genealogy|Cameroon]]</li>
<li>[[Cabo Verde Genealogy|Cabo Verde]]</li>
<li>[[Central African Republic Genealogy|Central African Republic]]</li>
<li>[[Chad Genealogy|Chad]]</li>
<li>[[Comoros Genealogy|Comoros]]</li>
<li>[[Democratic Republic of the Congo Genealogy|Congo, Democratic Republic of the]]</li>
<li>[[Republic of the Congo Genealogy|Congo, Republic of the]]</li>
<li>[[Djibouti Genealogy|Djibouti]]</li>
<li>[[Egypt Genealogy|Egypt]]</li>
<li>[[Equatorial Guinea Genealogy|Equatorial Guinea]]</li>
<li>[[Eritrea Genealogy|Eritrea]]</li>
<li>[[Kingdom of Eswatini Genealogy|Eswatini]]</li>
<li>[[Ethiopia Genealogy|Ethiopia]]</li>
<li>[[Gabon Genealogy|Gabon]]</li>
<li>[[The Gambia Genealogy|The Gambia]]</li>
<li>[[Ghana Genealogy|Ghana]]</li>
<li>[[Guinea Genealogy|Guinea]]</li>
<li>[[Guinea-Bissau Genealogy|Guinea-Bissau]]</li>
<li>[[Cote d'Ivoire Genealogy|Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)]]</li>
<li>[[Kenya Genealogy|Kenya]]</li>
<li>[[Lesotho Genealogy|Lesotho]]</li>
<li>[[Liberia Genealogy|Liberia]]</li>
<li>[[Libya Genealogy|Libya]]</li>
<li>[[Madagascar Genealogy|Madagascar]]</li>
<li>[[Malawi Genealogy|Malawi]]</li>
<li>[[Mali Genealogy|Mali]]</li>
<li>[[Mauritania Genealogy|Mauritania]]</li>
<li>[[Mauritius Genealogy|Mauritius]]</li>
<li>[[Mayotte, France Genealogy|Mayotte (France)]]</li>
<li>[[Morocco Genealogy|Morocco]]</li>
<li>[[Mozambique Genealogy|Mozambique]]</li>
<li>[[Namibia Genealogy|Namibia]]</li>
<li>[[Niger Genealogy|Niger]]</li>
<li>[[Nigeria Genealogy|Nigeria]]</li>
<li>[[Reunion Island, France Genealogy|Réunion (France)]]</li>
<li>[[Rwanda Genealogy|Rwanda]]</li>
<li>[[Saint Helena Genealogy|Saint Helena (UK)]]</li>
<li>[[São Tomé and Príncipe Genealogy|São Tomé and Príncipe]]</li>
<li>[[Senegal Genealogy|Senegal]]</li>
<li>[[Seychelles Genealogy|Seychelles]]</li>
<li>[[Sierra Leone Genealogy|Sierra Leone]]</li>
<li>[[Somalia Genealogy|Somalia]]</li>
<li>[[South Africa Genealogy|South Africa]]</li>
<li>[[South Sudan Genealogy|South Sudan]]</li>
<li>[[Sudan Genealogy|Sudan]]</li>
<li>[[Tanzania Genealogy|Tanzania]]</li>
<li>[[Togo Genealogy|Togo]]</li>
<li>[[Tunisia Genealogy|Tunisia]]</li>
<li>[[Uganda Genealogy|Uganda]]</li>
<li>[[Western Sahara Genealogy|Western Sahara]]</li>
<li>[[Zambia Genealogy|Zambia]]</li>
<li>[[Zimbabwe Genealogy|Zimbabwe]]</li>
</ul>
|}
===Oceania===
{| style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right="5px"; width: 70%">
<li>[[American Samoa Genealogy|American Samoa]]</li>
<li>[[Australia Genealogy|Australia]]</li>
<li>[[Cook Islands Genealogy|Cook Islands]]</li>
<li>[[Federated States of Micronesia Genealogy|Federated States of Micronesia]]</li>
<li>[[Fiji Genealogy|Fiji]]</li>
<li>[[French Polynesia Genealogy|French Polynesia]]</li>
<li>[[Guam Genealogy|Guam]]</li>
<li>[[Kiribati Genealogy|Kiribati]]</li>
<li>[[Marshall Islands Genealogy|Marshall Islands]]</li>
<li>[[Nauru Genealogy|Nauru]]</li>
<li>[[New Caledonia Genealogy|New Caledonia]]</li>
<li>[[New Zealand Genealogy|New Zealand]]</li>
<li>[[Niue Genealogy|Niue]]</li>
<li>[[Norfolk Island, Australia Genealogy|Norfolk Island]]</li>
<li>[[Northern Mariana Islands Genealogy|Northern Mariana Islands]]</li>
<li>[[Palau Genealogy|Palau]]</li>
<li>[[Papua New Guinea Genealogy|Papua New Guinea]]</li>
<li>[[Pitcairn Islands Genealogy|Pitcairn Islands]]</li>
<li>[[Samoa Genealogy|Samoa]]</li>
<li>[[Solomon Islands Genealogy|Solomon Islands]]</li>
<li>[[Tokelau Genealogy|Tokelau]]</li>
<li>[[Tonga Genealogy|Tonga]]</li>
<li>[[Tuvalu Genealogy|Tuvalu]]</li>
<li>[[Vanuatu Genealogy|Vanuatu]]</li>
<li>[[Wallis and Futuna Genealogy|Wallis and Futuna]]</li>
</ul>
|}
<br><br>
 
[[Category:Probate Records]]

Latest revision as of 16:22, 7 June 2024

Guide to locating probate records for ancestry, family history, and genealogy research.


Online Resources

What are probate records?

  • Probate is the legal process distributing real estate (property) and personal estate (possessions) to a person's heirs.
  • Testate is the term used when a will existed. Intestate means there was no will, and the court administers and distributes the estate.
  • Other documents may be found in the full probate packet.
  • Probate records are available for only about 10% of families, usually landowners and the wealthy. Most farmers, merchants, and artisans did not own their own farms or shops and did not leave wills.
  • Probate records often pre-date other birth and death records.
  • Wills are found in the town or county where the person lived when the will was made or where they died.
  • Probate records may include the deceased's date of death; names, relationships, residences of heirs and guardians; and names of witnesses.
  • Most wills were left by males with property; however, wills often list the names of the deceased's family and friends, so that many more people are listed in probate records than actually left them.

What can you find in probate records?

Information recorded may include:

  • the death date
  • names of heirs
  • family members
  • guardians
  • relationships
  • residences
  • inventories of the estate (including trade and household goods)
  • names of witnesses
  • names of executors

How do you find Probate Records?

United States

  • Probate records are kept on the county level for most of the United States and any online records will be found in the corresponding county Wiki pages.
  • For general information about probate records, see United States Probate Records
  • United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - try this index to probate records for the United States.
  • Select a State then go to the clickable map to select the county your ancestor died in.

Canada Probate Records

  • Probate records are kept on the county or district level for most of Canada and any online records.
  • For general information about probate records, see Canada Probate Records
  • Select a province then go to the clickable map to select the county or district your ancestor died in.

British Isles

  • Probate records are kept on the county for British Isles countries.
  • Select a country then go to the clickable map to select the county your ancestor died in.

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania



Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Probate_Records&oldid=5760033"