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Probate records are court records that describe the distribution of a person’s estate after he or she dies. Information in the records may include the deceased’s death date, heirs and guardians, relationships, residences, estate inventory, and witnesses. These records are of great value for genealogical research because they identify family relationships and clues.
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==Brazil Probate Records==
Probate records are court records that describe the distribution of a person’s estate after he or she dies. Information in the records may include the deceased’s death date, heirs and guardians, relationships, residences, estate inventory, and witnesses. These records are of great value for genealogical research because they identify family relationships and clues.  


The most common wills and probate records kept by the notaries in Brazil are listed under the "[[Brazil Notarial Records|Notarial Records]]" section of this outline. Wills made by the ecclesiastical authorities are found in diocese archives, archdiocese archives, or occasionally the parish archives. Often these wills have been deposited in municipal archives. There were also some wills written by the individual without the aid of a notary or clergy. These are found in public registries, private homes, and museums.
The most common wills and probate records kept by the notaries in Brazil are listed under [[Brazil Notarial Records]]. Wills made by the ecclesiastical authorities are found in diocese archives, archdiocese archives, or occasionally the parish archives. Often these wills have been deposited in municipal archives. There were also some wills written by the individual without the aid of a notary or clergy. These are found in public registries, private homes, and museums.  


About 65 percent of the records in the legislative and judicial section of the National Archives, in Rio de Janeiro, are inventories and wills. There is a partial name index to these records that includes about 40,000 individuals’ names.
== Probate Records at the FamilySearch Library ==
The FamilySearch Library has limited probate records, many of which have been digitized. These records can be found by doing a Subjects search in the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog] for BRAZIL PROBATE.  


In the state archives of São Paulo there is a collection of inventories and wills ('''inventários e testamentos''') covering 1578 to about 1800. This collection contains about 2,000 volumes. These records were originally compiled by notaries and orphan-court judges. They often give the deceased persons’ names, places of birth in Portugal, and children’s names and ages. A few of these (from 1633 to 1651) have been published by the archive in:
Records not included in FamilySearch's collection will have to be obtained from the archives in Brazil. See [[Brazil Archives and Libraries|Archives & Libraries]] for contact information.
== Probate Records at Brazilian Archives ==


* ''Inventários e testamentos (Inventories and Wills''). Vol. 41. São Paulo: Departamento do Arquivo do Estado de São Paulo, 1966. (FHL book 981.61 V4s; film 0962230 item 1)
About 65 percent of the records in the legislative and judicial section of the National Archives, in Rio de Janeiro, are inventories and wills. There is a partial name index to these records that includes about 40,000 individuals’ names.  


The Family History Library does not have copies of the probate records for Brazil, so these records would have to be obtained from the archives in Brazil.
In the state archives of São Paulo there is a collection of inventories and wills ('''inventários e testamentos''') covering 1578 to about 1800. This collection contains about 2,000 volumes. These records were originally compiled by notaries and orphan-court judges. They often give the deceased persons’ names, places of birth in Portugal, and children’s names and ages. A few of these (from 1633 to 1651) have been published by the archive in:


[[Category:Brazil]]
*''Inventários e testamentos (Inventories and Wills''). Vol. 41. São Paulo: Departamento do Arquivo do Estado de São Paulo, 1966. {{FSC|981.61 V4s}}; film {{FSC|0962230}} item 1.
 
See [[Brazil Archives and Libraries|Archives & Libraries]] for contact information for federal and state archives.
 
== Additional Resources ==
An additional resource to help in understanding the law and practices behind probate and other inheritance records for Brazil is Linda Lewin's two volume work:<br>
 
*Lewins, Linda. ''Surprise Heirs''. Vol 1 and 2. Standford, Calif: Standford University Press, 2003. [Vol. 1 and 2 accessible through the Harold B Lee Library at Brigham Young University.]'''<br>'''
 
Volume 1 covers illegitimacy, patrimonial rights, and legal nationalism in Luso-Brazilian inheritance from 1750-182, and volume 2 covers illegitimacy, inheritance rights, and public power in the formation of Imperial Brazil from 1822-1889. <br>
 
<br> [[pt:Brasil, Registros de Inventários]]
[[Category:Brazil]] [[Category:Histories]]

Latest revision as of 12:16, 20 March 2024


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Brazil Probate Records[edit | edit source]

Probate records are court records that describe the distribution of a person’s estate after he or she dies. Information in the records may include the deceased’s death date, heirs and guardians, relationships, residences, estate inventory, and witnesses. These records are of great value for genealogical research because they identify family relationships and clues.

The most common wills and probate records kept by the notaries in Brazil are listed under Brazil Notarial Records. Wills made by the ecclesiastical authorities are found in diocese archives, archdiocese archives, or occasionally the parish archives. Often these wills have been deposited in municipal archives. There were also some wills written by the individual without the aid of a notary or clergy. These are found in public registries, private homes, and museums.

Probate Records at the FamilySearch Library[edit | edit source]

The FamilySearch Library has limited probate records, many of which have been digitized. These records can be found by doing a Subjects search in the FamilySearch Catalog for BRAZIL PROBATE.

Records not included in FamilySearch's collection will have to be obtained from the archives in Brazil. See Archives & Libraries for contact information.

Probate Records at Brazilian Archives[edit | edit source]

About 65 percent of the records in the legislative and judicial section of the National Archives, in Rio de Janeiro, are inventories and wills. There is a partial name index to these records that includes about 40,000 individuals’ names.

In the state archives of São Paulo there is a collection of inventories and wills (inventários e testamentos) covering 1578 to about 1800. This collection contains about 2,000 volumes. These records were originally compiled by notaries and orphan-court judges. They often give the deceased persons’ names, places of birth in Portugal, and children’s names and ages. A few of these (from 1633 to 1651) have been published by the archive in:

See Archives & Libraries for contact information for federal and state archives.

Additional Resources[edit | edit source]

An additional resource to help in understanding the law and practices behind probate and other inheritance records for Brazil is Linda Lewin's two volume work:

  • Lewins, Linda. Surprise Heirs. Vol 1 and 2. Standford, Calif: Standford University Press, 2003. [Vol. 1 and 2 accessible through the Harold B Lee Library at Brigham Young University.]

Volume 1 covers illegitimacy, patrimonial rights, and legal nationalism in Luso-Brazilian inheritance from 1750-182, and volume 2 covers illegitimacy, inheritance rights, and public power in the formation of Imperial Brazil from 1822-1889.