Probate Records: Difference between revisions

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*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.
*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?==
==What can you find in probate records?==
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<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>
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<li>[[Burundi Genealogy|Burundi]]</li>  
<li>[[Cameroon Genealogy|Cameroon]]</li>  
<li>[[Cameroon Genealogy|Cameroon]]</li>  
<li>[[Cape Verde Genealogy|Cape Verde]]</li>  
<li>[[Cabo Verde Genealogy|Cabo Verde]]</li>  
<li>[[Central African Republic Genealogy|Central African Republic]]</li>  
<li>[[Central African Republic Genealogy|Central African Republic]]</li>  
<li>[[Chad Genealogy|Chad]]</li>  
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<li>[[Rwanda Genealogy|Rwanda]]</li>  
<li>[[Rwanda Genealogy|Rwanda]]</li>  
<li>[[Saint Helena Genealogy|Saint Helena (UK)]]</li>  
<li>[[Saint Helena Genealogy|Saint Helena (UK)]]</li>  
<li>[[Sao Tome and Principe Genealogy|Sao Tome and Principe]]</li>  
<li>[[São Tomé and Príncipe Genealogy|São Tomé and Príncipe]]</li>  
<li>[[Senegal Genealogy|Senegal]]</li>  
<li>[[Senegal Genealogy|Senegal]]</li>  
<li>[[Seychelles Genealogy|Seychelles]]</li>  
<li>[[Seychelles Genealogy|Seychelles]]</li>  

Latest revision as of 16:22, 7 June 2024

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


Online Resources[edit | edit source]

What are probate records?[edit | edit source]

  • 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?[edit | edit source]

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?[edit | edit source]

United States[edit | edit source]

  • 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[edit | edit source]

  • 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[edit | edit source]

  • 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[edit | edit source]

Asia[edit | edit source]

Africa[edit | edit source]

Oceania[edit | edit source]



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