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Guide to locating probate records for ancestry, family history, and genealogy research.
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==What Probate Records Are==
__TOC__
*Probate is the legal process distributing real estate (property) and personal estate (possessions) to a person's heirs.  
==Online Resources==
*Testate is the term used when a will existed. Intestate means there was no will, and the court administers and distributes the estate.  
*'''''To access probate records for a specific county use the [[Probate Records#How do you find Probate Records?|links to country pages]] below.'''''
*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.
==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.  
*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?==
==Information in Probate Records==
Information recorded may include:
Information recorded may include:
*the death date
*the death date
Line 28: Line 29:
*names of executors
*names of executors


==How do you find Probate Records?==
==How to Find Probate Records==
===United States===
===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.
*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]]
*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;"
{| 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 Probate Records|Alabama]]</li>
   <li>[[Alaska Probate Records|Alaska]]</li>  
   <li>[[Alaska Probate Records|Alaska]]</li>
   <li>[[Arizona Probate Records|Arizona]]</li>  
   <li>[[Arizona Probate Records|Arizona]]</li>
   <li>[[Arkansas Probate Records|Arkansas]]</li>  
   <li>[[Arkansas Probate Records|Arkansas]]</li>
   <li>[[California Probate Records|California]]</li>  
   <li>[[California Probate Records|California]]</li>
   <li>[[Colorado Probate Records|Colorado]]</li>  
   <li>[[Colorado Probate Records|Colorado]]</li>
   <li>[[Connecticut Probate Records|Connecticut]]</li>  
   <li>[[Connecticut Probate Records|Connecticut]]</li>
   <li>[[Delaware Probate Records|Delaware]]</li>
   <li>[[Delaware Probate Records|Delaware]]</li>
  <li>[[District of Columbia Probate Records|District of Columbia]]</li>  
   <li>[[Florida Probate Records|Florida]]</li>
   <li>[[Florida Probate Records|Florida]]</li>  
   <li>[[Georgia Probate Records|Georgia]]</li>
   <li>[[Georgia Probate Records|Georgia]]</li>  
   <li>[[Hawaii Probate Records|Hawaii]]</li>
   <li>[[Hawaii Probate Records|Hawaii]]</li>  
   <li>[[Idaho Probate Records|Idaho]]</li>
   <li>[[Idaho Probate Records|Idaho]]</li>  
   <li>[[Illinois Probate Records|Illinois]]</li>
   <li>[[Illinois Probate Records|Illinois]]</li>  
   <li>[[Indiana Probate Records|Indiana]]</li>
   <li>[[Indiana Probate Records|Indiana]]</li>  
   <li>[[Iowa Probate Records|Iowa]]</li>
   <li>[[Iowa Probate Records|Iowa]]</li>  
   <li>[[Kansas Probate Records|Kansas]]</li>
   <li>[[Kansas Probate Records|Kansas]]</li>
   <li>[[Kentucky Probate Records|Kentucky]]</li>  
   <li>[[Kentucky Probate Records|Kentucky]]</li>
   <li>[[Louisiana Probate Records|Louisiana]]</li>  
   <li>[[Louisiana Probate Records|Louisiana]]</li>
   <li>[[Maine Probate Records|Maine]]</li>  
   <li>[[Maine Probate Records|Maine]]</li>
   <li>[[Maryland Probate Records|Maryland]]</li>  
   <li>[[Maryland Probate Records|Maryland]]</li>
   <li>[[Massachusetts Probate Records|Massachusetts]]</li>  
   <li>[[Massachusetts Probate Records|Massachusetts]]</li>
   <li>[[Michigan Probate Records|Michigan]]</li>  
   <li>[[Michigan Probate Records|Michigan]]</li>
   <li>[[Minnesota Probate Records|Minnesota]]</li>  
   <li>[[Minnesota Probate Records|Minnesota]]</li>
   <li>[[Mississippi Probate Records|Mississippi]]</li>  
   <li>[[Mississippi Probate Records|Mississippi]]</li>
   <li>[[Missouri Probate Records|Missouri]]</li>  
   <li>[[Missouri Probate Records|Missouri]]</li>
   <li>[[Montana Probate Records|Montana]]</li>  
   <li>[[Montana Probate Records|Montana]]</li>
   <li>[[Nebraska Probate Records|Nebraska]]</li>  
   <li>[[Nebraska Probate Records|Nebraska]]</li>
   <li>[[Nevada Probate Records|Nevada]]</li>  
   <li>[[Nevada Probate Records|Nevada]]</li>
   <li>[[New Hampshire Probate Records|New Hampshire]]</li>  
   <li>[[New Hampshire Probate Records|New Hampshire]]</li>
   <li>[[New Jersey Probate Records|New Jersey]]</li>  
   <li>[[New Jersey Probate Records|New Jersey]]</li>
   <li>[[New Mexico Probate Records|New Mexico]]</li>  
   <li>[[New Mexico Probate Records|New Mexico]]</li>
   <li>[[New York Probate Records|New York]]</li>  
   <li>[[New York Probate Records|New York]]</li>
   <li>[[North Carolina Probate Records|North Carolina]]</li>
   <li>[[North Carolina Probate Records|North Carolina]]</li>
   <li>[[North Dakota Probate Records|North Dakota]]</li>  
   <li>[[North Dakota Probate Records|North Dakota]]</li>
   <li>[[Ohio Probate Records|Ohio]]</li>  
   <li>[[Ohio Probate Records|Ohio]]</li>
   <li>[[Oklahoma Probate Records|Oklahoma]]</li>  
   <li>[[Oklahoma Probate Records|Oklahoma]]</li>
   <li>[[Oregon Probate Records|Oregon]]</li>  
   <li>[[Oregon Probate Records|Oregon]]</li>
   <li>[[Pennsylvania Probate Records|Pennsylvania]]</li>  
   <li>[[Pennsylvania Probate Records|Pennsylvania]]</li>
   <li>[[Rhode Island Probate Records|Rhode Island]]</li>  
   <li>[[Rhode Island Probate Records|Rhode Island]]</li>
   <li>[[South Carolina Probate Records|South Carolina]]</li>  
   <li>[[South Carolina Probate Records|South Carolina]]</li>
   <li>[[South Dakota Probate Records|South Dakota]]</li>  
   <li>[[South Dakota Probate Records|South Dakota]]</li>
   <li>[[Tennessee Probate Records|Tennessee]]</li>  
   <li>[[Tennessee Probate Records|Tennessee]]</li>
   <li>[[Texas Probate Records|Texas]]</li>  
   <li>[[Texas Probate Records|Texas]]</li>
   <li>[[Utah Probate Records|Utah]]</li>  
   <li>[[Utah Probate Records|Utah]]</li>
   <li>[[Vermont Probate Records|Vermont]]</li>  
   <li>[[Vermont Probate Records|Vermont]]</li>
   <li>[[Virginia Probate Records|Virginia]]</li>  
   <li>[[Virginia Probate Records|Virginia]]</li>
   <li>[[Washington Probate Records|Washington]]</li>  
   <li>[[Washington Probate Records|Washington]]</li>
   <li>[[West Virginia Probate Records|West Virginia]]</li>  
   <li>[[West Virginia Probate Records|West Virginia]]</li>
   <li>[[Wisconsin Probate Records|Wisconsin]]</li>  
   <li>[[Wisconsin Probate Records|Wisconsin]]</li>
   <li>[[Wyoming Probate Records|Wyoming]]</li>
   <li>[[Wyoming Probate Records|Wyoming]]</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Line 95: Line 95:
*Probate records are kept on the county or district level for most of Canada and any online 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]]
*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.
*''Select a province then go to the clickable map to select the county or district your ancestor died in.''
{| style="vertical-align:top;"
{| style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
|-
Line 115: Line 115:
|}
|}


===British Isles===
==Research Strategies==
*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>[[The Netherlands Genealogy|The 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>[[Cape Verde Genealogy|Cape Verde]]</li> ral 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>[[Sao Tome and Principe Genealogy|Sao Tome and Principe]]</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>
|}


<br><br>
<br><br>

Latest revision as of 20:12, 12 September 2024

What Probate Records Are

  • 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.

Information 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 to 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.

Research Strategies



Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Probate_Records&oldid=5931430"