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United States Probate Records (view source)
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''[[United States|United States ]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[ | ''[[United States|United States ]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United_States_Probate_Records|Probate Records]]'' | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
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== Availability == | == Availability == | ||
In colonial times wills were sometimes proved in courts in the old country. American wills and administrations proved in London have been abstracted and published multiple times. Each edition is listed here, as some are available online, while others are not. In addition, publishers included more detailed abstracts in some editions than others. The 2007 edition includes a place-name index that enables users to pluck out references to specific colonies or states: | In colonial times wills were sometimes proved in courts in the old country. | ||
=== Proved in London === | |||
American wills and administrations proved in London have been abstracted and published multiple times. Each edition is listed here, as some are available online, while others are not. In addition, publishers included more detailed abstracts in some editions than others. The 2007 edition includes a place-name index that enables users to pluck out references to specific colonies or states: | |||
*Coldham, Peter Wilson. ''English Estates of American Colonists: American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1610-1699''. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980. Digital version at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48506 Ancestry] ($). | *Coldham, Peter Wilson. ''English Estates of American Colonists: American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1610-1699''. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980. Digital version at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48506 Ancestry] ($). | ||
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*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/wills.asp Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills (1384-1858)], courtesy: The National Archives, UK. | *[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/wills.asp Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills (1384-1858)], courtesy: The National Archives, UK. | ||
*[http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/user/subscriptions.php#record_sets PCC Wills Index and Images (1384-1858)], courtesy: The Genealogist. (in progress) | *[http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/user/subscriptions.php#record_sets PCC Wills Index and Images (1384-1858)], courtesy: The Genealogist. (in progress) | ||
=== Proved in Edinburgh === | |||
Other American wills were proved in Edinburgh, Scotland, see: | Other American wills were proved in Edinburgh, Scotland, see: | ||
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*Dobson, David. ''Scottish-American Wills, 1650-1900''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1991. {{FHL|973 P22}} Over 2,000 citations including name, occupation, residence, and date. | *Dobson, David. ''Scottish-American Wills, 1650-1900''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1991. {{FHL|973 P22}} Over 2,000 citations including name, occupation, residence, and date. | ||
Most of these references were taken from the Commissariat Court of Edinburgh (now the Sheriff Court of Edinburgh) and the Index to Personal Estates of Defuncts, 1846-1866. If you find a will abstact that interests you in Dobson's book, it is now possible to view digital images of the original records online at a United Kingdom pay-per-view website: | Most of these references were taken from the Commissariat Court of Edinburgh (now the Sheriff Court of Edinburgh) and the Index to Personal Estates of Defuncts, 1846-1866. If you find a will abstact that interests you in Dobson's book, it is now possible to view digital images of the original records online at a United Kingdom pay-per-view website: | ||
*[http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ Wills & Testaments (1513-1901)], courtesy: Scotlands People | *[http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ Wills & Testaments (1513-1901)], courtesy: Scotlands People | ||
=== Proved in America === | |||
Each state developed its own court system and procedures for handling probates. In most states, probate records are presently recorded by a county clerk, except in Connecticut and Vermont, where they are kept by probate districts, and Rhode Island, where they are kept by the town clerk. Some colonial records were kept by the town or the colony. The keeping of wills and estate papers usually began when the county was organized. Research outlines available for each state explain which courts were responsible for probate in that state. | Each state developed its own court system and procedures for handling probates. In most states, probate records are presently recorded by a county clerk, except in Connecticut and Vermont, where they are kept by probate districts, and Rhode Island, where they are kept by the town clerk. Some colonial records were kept by the town or the colony. The keeping of wills and estate papers usually began when the county was organized. Research outlines available for each state explain which courts were responsible for probate in that state. | ||
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Whether a person has a will or not affects the type of records that will be created in the probate process:<br>'''Testate--'''The deceased individual had a will.<br>'''Intestate--'''No will was created by the deceased. | Whether a person has a will or not affects the type of records that will be created in the probate process:<br>'''Testate--'''The deceased individual had a will.<br>'''Intestate--'''No will was created by the deceased. | ||
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" | {| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="503" border="5" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | valign="top" align="center" | '''Testate Estate Records''' | ||
| | | valign="top" align="center" | '''Intestate Estate Records''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | | ||
Will<br>Estate File/Probate Case File<br>Letters Testamentary<br>Dower Rights<br>Guardianship<br>Settlements<br>Distributions<br> | Will<br>Estate File/Probate Case File<br>Letters Testamentary<br>Dower Rights<br>Guardianship<br>Settlements<br>Distributions<br> | ||
| | | | ||
Administration<br>Letters of Administration<br>Dower Rights<br>Guardianship<br>Settlements<br>Distributions<br> | Administration<br>Letters of Administration<br>Dower Rights<br>Guardianship<br>Settlements<br>Distributions<br> | ||
|} | |} | ||
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*[[Wisconsin Probate Records|Wisconsin]] | *[[Wisconsin Probate Records|Wisconsin]] | ||
*[[Wyoming Probate Records|Wyoming]] | *[[Wyoming Probate Records|Wyoming]] | ||
*[[ | *[[United_States_Probate_Records|United States]] | ||
|} | |} | ||