FamilySearch Wiki

Probate Records: Difference between revisions

VisualWikitext
m (Text replacement - "Cape Verde" to "Cabo Verde")
 
(17 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 13: Line 13:
*Probate records often pre-date other birth and death records.  
*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.
*Wills are '''found in the town or county''' where the person lived when the will was made or where they died.
*Depending on the country, probate records can be found online as digital images. For the United States, an experimental index of many county probate records is available to search.  
*Probate records may include the deceased's date of death; names, relationships, residences of heirs and guardians; and names of witnesses.
:*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/textprototype/ United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search] at FamilySearch
*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?==
==What can you find in probate records?==
Line 33: Line 33:
*For general information about probate records, see [[United States Probate Records|United States Probate Records]]
*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.
*[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.
*''Select a State 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%;">
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right="5px"; width: 70%">
   <li>[[Alabama Probate Records|Alabama]]</li>  
   <li>[[Alabama, United States Genealogy|Alabama]]</li>
   <li>[[Alaska Probate Records|Alaska]]</li>  
   <li>[[Alaska, United States Genealogy|Alaska]]</li>
   <li>[[Arizona Probate Records|Arizona]]</li>  
   <li>[[Arizona, United States Genealogy|Arizona]]</li>
   <li>[[Arkansas Probate Records|Arkansas]]</li>  
   <li>[[Arkansas, United States Genealogy|Arkansas]]</li>
   <li>[[California Probate Records|California]]</li>  
   <li>[[California, United States Genealogy|California]]</li>
   <li>[[Colorado Probate Records|Colorado]]</li>  
   <li>[[Colorado, United States Genealogy|Colorado]]</li>
   <li>[[Connecticut Probate Records|Connecticut]]</li>  
   <li>[[Connecticut, United States Genealogy|Connecticut]]</li>
   <li>[[Delaware Probate Records|Delaware]]</li>
   <li>[[Delaware, United States Genealogy|Delaware]]</li>
  <li>[[District of Columbia Probate Records|District of Columbia]]</li>  
   <li>[[Florida, United States Genealogy|Florida]]</li>
   <li>[[Florida Probate Records|Florida]]</li>  
   <li>[[Georgia, United States Genealogy|Georgia]]</li>
   <li>[[Georgia Probate Records|Georgia]]</li>  
   <li>[[Hawaii, United States Genealogy|Hawaii]]</li>
   <li>[[Hawaii Probate Records|Hawaii]]</li>  
   <li>[[Idaho, United States Genealogy|Idaho]]</li>
   <li>[[Idaho Probate Records|Idaho]]</li>  
   <li>[[Illinois, United States Genealogy|Illinois]]</li>
   <li>[[Illinois Probate Records|Illinois]]</li>  
   <li>[[Indiana, United States Genealogy|Indiana]]</li>
   <li>[[Indiana Probate Records|Indiana]]</li>  
   <li>[[Iowa, United States Genealogy|Iowa]]</li>
   <li>[[Iowa Probate Records|Iowa]]</li>  
   <li>[[Kansas, United States Genealogy|Kansas]]</li>
   <li>[[Kansas Probate Records|Kansas]]</li>
   <li>[[Kentucky, United States Genealogy|Kentucky]]</li>
   <li>[[Kentucky Probate Records|Kentucky]]</li>  
   <li>[[Louisiana, United States Genealogy|Louisiana]]</li>
   <li>[[Louisiana Probate Records|Louisiana]]</li>  
   <li>[[Maine, United States Genealogy|Maine]]</li>
   <li>[[Maine Probate Records|Maine]]</li>  
   <li>[[Maryland, United States Genealogy|Maryland]]</li>
   <li>[[Maryland Probate Records|Maryland]]</li>  
   <li>[[Massachusetts, United States Genealogy|Massachusetts]]</li>
   <li>[[Massachusetts Probate Records|Massachusetts]]</li>  
   <li>[[Michigan, United States Genealogy|Michigan]]</li>
   <li>[[Michigan Probate Records|Michigan]]</li>  
   <li>[[Minnesota, United States Genealogy|Minnesota]]</li>
   <li>[[Minnesota Probate Records|Minnesota]]</li>  
   <li>[[Mississippi, United States Genealogy|Mississippi]]</li>
   <li>[[Mississippi Probate Records|Mississippi]]</li>  
   <li>[[Missouri, United States Genealogy|Missouri]]</li>
   <li>[[Missouri Probate Records|Missouri]]</li>  
   <li>[[Montana, United States Genealogy|Montana]]</li>
   <li>[[Montana Probate Records|Montana]]</li>  
   <li>[[Nebraska, United States Genealogy|Nebraska]]</li>
   <li>[[Nebraska Probate Records|Nebraska]]</li>  
   <li>[[Nevada, United States Genealogy|Nevada]]</li>
   <li>[[Nevada Probate Records|Nevada]]</li>  
   <li>[[New Hampshire, United States Genealogy|New Hampshire]]</li>
   <li>[[New Hampshire Probate Records|New Hampshire]]</li>  
   <li>[[New Jersey, United States Genealogy|New Jersey]]</li>
   <li>[[New Jersey Probate Records|New Jersey]]</li>  
   <li>[[New Mexico, United States Genealogy|New Mexico]]</li>
   <li>[[New Mexico Probate Records|New Mexico]]</li>  
   <li>[[New York, United States Genealogy|New York]]</li>
   <li>[[New York Probate Records|New York]]</li>  
   <li>[[North Carolina, United States Genealogy|North Carolina]]</li>
   <li>[[North Carolina Probate Records|North Carolina]]</li>
   <li>[[North Dakota, United States Genealogy|North Dakota]]</li>
   <li>[[North Dakota Probate Records|North Dakota]]</li>  
   <li>[[Ohio, United States Genealogy|Ohio]]</li>
   <li>[[Ohio Probate Records|Ohio]]</li>  
   <li>[[Oklahoma, United States Genealogy|Oklahoma]]</li>
   <li>[[Oklahoma Probate Records|Oklahoma]]</li>  
   <li>[[Oregon, United States Genealogy|Oregon]]</li>
   <li>[[Oregon Probate Records|Oregon]]</li>  
   <li>[[Pennsylvania, United States Genealogy|Pennsylvania]]</li>
   <li>[[Pennsylvania Probate Records|Pennsylvania]]</li>  
   <li>[[Rhode Island, United States Genealogy|Rhode Island]]</li>
   <li>[[Rhode Island Probate Records|Rhode Island]]</li>  
   <li>[[South Carolina, United States Genealogy|South Carolina]]</li>
   <li>[[South Carolina Probate Records|South Carolina]]</li>  
   <li>[[South Dakota, United States Genealogy|South Dakota]]</li>
   <li>[[South Dakota Probate Records|South Dakota]]</li>  
   <li>[[Tennessee, United States Genealogy|Tennessee]]</li>
   <li>[[Tennessee Probate Records|Tennessee]]</li>  
   <li>[[Texas, United States Genealogy|Texas]]</li>
   <li>[[Texas Probate Records|Texas]]</li>  
   <li>[[Utah, United States Genealogy|Utah]]</li>
   <li>[[Utah Probate Records|Utah]]</li>  
   <li>[[Vermont, United States Genealogy|Vermont]]</li>
   <li>[[Vermont Probate Records|Vermont]]</li>  
   <li>[[Virginia, United States Genealogy|Virginia]]</li>
   <li>[[Virginia Probate Records|Virginia]]</li>  
   <li>[[Washington, United States Genealogy|Washington]]</li>
   <li>[[Washington Probate Records|Washington]]</li>  
   <li>[[West Virginia, United States Genealogy|West Virginia]]</li>
   <li>[[West Virginia Probate Records|West Virginia]]</li>  
   <li>[[Wisconsin, United States Genealogy|Wisconsin]]</li>
   <li>[[Wisconsin Probate Records|Wisconsin]]</li>  
   <li>[[Wyoming, United States Genealogy|Wyoming]]</li>
   <li>[[Wyoming Probate Records|Wyoming]]</li>
</ul>
</ul>
|}
|}


===Canada Probate Records===
===Canada Probate Records===
*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.
*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 [[United States Probate Records|United States Probate Records]]
*For general information about probate records, see [[Canada Probate Records|Canada Probate Records]]
*Select a State then go to the clickable map to select the county your ancestor died in.
*''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;">
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right="5px"; width: 70%">
   <li>[[Alberta Probate Records|Alberta]]</li>  
   <li>[[Alberta Probate Records|Alberta]]</li>  
   <li>[[British Columbia Probate Records|British Columbia]]</li>  
   <li>[[British Columbia Probate Records|British Columbia]]</li>  
Line 116: Line 115:


===British Isles===
===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;"
{| style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
|-
<ul class="column-spacing-halfscreen" style="padding-right="5px">
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right="5px"; width: 70%">
<li>[[England Genealogy|England]]</li>   
<li>[[England Genealogy|England]]</li>   
<li>[[Ireland Genealogy|Ireland, The Republic of]]</li>  
<li>[[Ireland Genealogy|Ireland, The Republic of]]</li>  
Line 128: Line 130:
<li>[[Jersey Genealogy|Jersey]]</li>
<li>[[Jersey Genealogy|Jersey]]</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br><br>
|-
|-
|}
|}
Line 135: Line 136:
{| style="vertical-align:top;"
{| style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
|-
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right="5px">
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right="5px"; width: 70%">
<li>[[Albania Genealogy|Albania]]</li>  
<li>[[Albania Genealogy|Albania]]</li>  
<li>[[Andorra Genealogy|Andorra]]</li>
<li>[[Andorra Genealogy|Andorra]]</li>
Line 168: Line 169:
<li>[[Monaco Genealogy|Monaco]]</li>
<li>[[Monaco Genealogy|Monaco]]</li>
<li>[[Montenegro Genealogy|Montenegro]]</li>
<li>[[Montenegro Genealogy|Montenegro]]</li>
<li>[[The Netherlands Genealogy|The Netherlands]]</li>
<li>[[Netherlands Genealogy|Netherlands]]</li>
<li>[[North Macedonia Genealogy|North Macedonia]]</li>
<li>[[North Macedonia Genealogy|North Macedonia]]</li>
<li>[[Norway Genealogy|Norway]]</li>
<li>[[Norway Genealogy|Norway]]</li>
Line 187: Line 188:


===Asia===
===Asia===
{|
{| style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
|-
| style="vertical-align:top" |
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right="5px"; width: 70%">
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right:5px;">
<li>[[Afghanistan Genealogy|Afghanistan]]</li>  
<li>[[Afghanistan Genealogy|Afghanistan]]</li>  
<li>[[Bangladesh  Genealogy|Bangladesh]]</li>  
<li>[[Bangladesh  Genealogy|Bangladesh]]</li>  
Line 227: Line 227:
|}
|}


 
===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>
<br><br>


[[Category:Probate Records]]
[[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"