Denmark Probate Records: Difference between revisions

'''Research use:''' These records are useful linkage sources for the upper and middle classes. They give family relationships. They are difficult to use without the indexes; The indexes are needed to effectively locate individuals in the wills.  

'''Record type:''' Legal declarations of a person's desires for the disposition of his property or estate after his death. Generally only the upper and middle classes had wills. The peasant classes are most often found only in the probate records. Most original will books include indexes. Transcripts of wills were sent to the Chancery to be confirmed. After 1848 , the Ministry of Justice (''Justitsministeriet'') kept copies of all wills.

 

 

'''Contents:''' Name and age of testator, residence, heirs, relationships, description of land and property, date of will, signature, witnesses. Indexes.

 

'''Location:''' There is a large collection of original will books (including indexes) in the National Archives that goes up to 1925. Many original wills are in the provincial archives, under the “amts” jurisdiction up to 1933.

 

'''Percentage in Family History Library:''' Overall about 45%. The library has already acquired about 90% of will transcripts (1750-1848) as part of chancery records. Although most of the probate records of Denmark have been filmed, the Family History Library has not filmed any original wills.