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Pennsylvania Probate Records (view source)
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''[[United States Probate Records|United States Probate Records]] > [[Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]] > Pennsylvania Probate Records'' {{Adoption PARoots}} <br> | ''[[United States Probate Records|United States Probate Records]] > [[Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]] > Pennsylvania Probate Records'' {{Adoption PARoots}} <br> | ||
== Record Overview == | === Record Overview === | ||
<br>Probate records are court records created after an individual’s death that relate to a court’s decisions regarding the distribution of the estate to the heirs or creditors and the care of any dependents. You may find the names of married daughters or other relatives and their residences; or information about the adoption or guardianship of minor children and dependents. Probate records do not always give an exact date of death, but the death usually occurred within four months of probate. These documents are important to family history researchers, because they usually exist for time periods before civil birth and death records were kept.<br> | <br>Probate records are court records created after an individual’s death that relate to a court’s decisions regarding the distribution of the estate to the heirs or creditors and the care of any dependents. You may find the names of married daughters or other relatives and their residences; or information about the adoption or guardianship of minor children and dependents. Probate records do not always give an exact date of death, but the death usually occurred within four months of probate. These documents are important to family history researchers, because they usually exist for time periods before civil birth and death records were kept.<br> | ||
Probate records may include: petitions, wills, bonds, inventories, publications, accounts, divisions,claims | Probate records may include: petitions, wills, bonds, inventories, publications, accounts, divisions,claims, letters of administration, probate journals, probate packets, | ||
Other documents may include: adoption, deed, guardianship, legitimation of children, manumissions, apprenticeships, dower rights and releases, deeds, tax leins, land sold for back taxes, widow allowances, order of distribution, decree of heirship | Other documents may include: adoption, deed, guardianship, legitimation of children, manumissions, apprenticeships, dower rights and releases, deeds, tax leins, land sold for back taxes, widow allowances, order of distribution, decree of heirship | ||
=== History === | |||
== History == | |||
Probates have been recorded on a county basis since the origin of the Commonwealth in 1682. Complete records are available in most counties. Probate actions taken in a locality before the present county was formed are found in records of the parent county. | Probates have been recorded on a county basis since the origin of the Commonwealth in 1682. Complete records are available in most counties. Probate actions taken in a locality before the present county was formed are found in records of the parent county. | ||
== Jurisdictions == | === Jurisdictions === | ||
== Availability == | === Availability === | ||
Pennsylvania wills have been filed with the "register of wills" in each county, where they are recorded in indexed books. | Pennsylvania wills have been filed with the "register of wills" in each county, where they are recorded in indexed books. | ||
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A few land, probate, and will records are available on line from [http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/default.aspx?rt=36 Ancestry.com]. | A few land, probate, and will records are available on line from [http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/default.aspx?rt=36 Ancestry.com]. | ||
== Repositories == | === Repositories === | ||
=== Indexes === | |||
=== Finding Aids === | === Finding Aids === | ||
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Pennsylvania- Probate Records Pennsylvania, [COUNTY] - Probate Records | Pennsylvania- Probate Records Pennsylvania, [COUNTY] - Probate Records | ||
=== References === | === References === | ||