Jump to content

Missouri Probate Records: Difference between revisions

Corrected the wording to indicate that wills may be found in a probate file, but they are not created during the probate process. If you die without a will, one cannot be written for you!
(Breadcrumb)
(Corrected the wording to indicate that wills may be found in a probate file, but they are not created during the probate process. If you die without a will, one cannot be written for you!)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{MO-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
{{MO-sidebar}}
{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
| link2=[[United States Probate Records|U.S. Probate Records]]
| link2=[[United States Probate Records|U.S. Probate Records]]
Line 7: Line 8:
}}
}}


=== Online Resources ===
===Online Resources===
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9071 Missouri, Wills and Probate Records, 1766-1988], ($), index and images, incomplete.  
 
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9071 Missouri, Wills and Probate Records, 1766-1988], ($), index and images, incomplete.
*{{RecordSearch|2399107|Missouri, Probate Records, 1750-1998}} Images only. dates vary by county.
*{{RecordSearch|2399107|Missouri, Probate Records, 1750-1998}} Images only. dates vary by county.
*'''1766 - 1988''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9071 Missouri Wills and Probate Records 1766-1988] at [http://home.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com] — index and images $
*'''1766 - 1988''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9071 Missouri Wills and Probate Records 1766-1988] at [http://home.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com] — index and images $


=== Record Synopsis ===
===Record Synopsis===


Probate is the “court procedure by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid” and encompasses “all matters and proceedings pertaining to the administration of estates, guardianships, etc.”<ref>Henry Campbell Black, ''Black's Law Dictionary,'' 5th ed. (St. Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Co., 1979), 1081, "probate."</ref> Various types of records are created throughout the probate process. These may include, [[United States Probate Wills|wills]], bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. These documents are extremely valuable to genealogists and should not be neglected. In many instances, they are the only known source of relevant information such as the decedent’s date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their places of residence. They may also include information about adoption or guardianship of minor children and dependents. For further information about&nbsp;the [[United States Probate Process|probate process]],&nbsp;types of probate records,&nbsp;[[Analyzing United States Probate Records|analyzing probate records]], and to access a [[Glossary of United States Probate Terms|glossary]] of probate terms, see [[United States Probate Records|United States Probate Records]].  
Probate is the “court procedure by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid” and encompasses “all matters and proceedings pertaining to the administration of estates, guardianships, etc.”<ref>Henry Campbell Black, ''Black's Law Dictionary,'' 5th ed. (St. Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Co., 1979), 1081, "probate."</ref> Various types of records may be found in a probate file. These may include, [[United States Probate Wills|wills]], bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. These documents are extremely valuable to genealogists and should not be neglected. In many instances, they are the only known source of relevant information such as the decedent’s date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their places of residence. They may also include information about adoption or guardianship of minor children and dependents. For further information about&nbsp;the [[United States Probate Process|probate process]],&nbsp;types of probate records,&nbsp;[[Analyzing United States Probate Records|analyzing probate records]], and to access a [[Glossary of United States Probate Terms|glossary]] of probate terms, see [[United States Probate Records|United States Probate Records]].  


*Probate matters in Missouri have usually been recorded by the clerks of the probate courts, but in some counties the common pleas or circuit courts handled this function. The records include wills, administrator bonds, and estate inventories. They are frequently indexed.<br>  
*Probate matters in Missouri have usually been recorded by the clerks of the probate courts, but in some counties the common pleas or circuit courts handled this function. The records include wills, administrator bonds, and estate inventories. They are frequently indexed.<br>
*A brief history of the settlement and boundary changes of&nbsp;Missouri and the resultant effects on record keeping can be found on [http://www.ancestry.com/wiki/index.php?title=History_of_Missouri Ancestry]. ($)<br>  
*A brief history of the settlement and boundary changes of&nbsp;Missouri and the resultant effects on record keeping can be found on [http://www.ancestry.com/wiki/index.php?title=History_of_Missouri Ancestry]. ($)<br>
*A discussion of Missouri Probate Records written by Marsha Hoffman Rising and Pamela Boyer&nbsp;Porter&nbsp;in ''Red book: American State, County, and Town Sources'' can be found at [http://www.ancestry.com/wiki/index.php?title=Missouri_Probate_Records Ancestry]. ($)
*A discussion of Missouri Probate Records written by Marsha Hoffman Rising and Pamela Boyer&nbsp;Porter&nbsp;in ''Red book: American State, County, and Town Sources'' can be found at [http://www.ancestry.com/wiki/index.php?title=Missouri_Probate_Records Ancestry]. ($)


=== Repositories ===
===Repositories===


=== Local ===
===Local===


*&nbsp;Copies of probate records can be obtained&nbsp;by contacting the probate judge in each county, or the Circut Court.
*&nbsp;Copies of probate records can be obtained&nbsp;by contacting the probate judge in each county, or the Circut Court.


=== Statewide Record Collections ===
===Statewide Record Collections===


A statewide index to Missouri probate records has not been compiled.  
A statewide index to Missouri probate records has not been compiled.  
Line 34: Line 36:
•Greene County Circuit Court (1856-1873, non-inclusive) <br>•Jasper County Circuit Court (1860-1876, non-inclusive) <br>•New Madrid County Probate Court (1805-1830) <br>•Saint Charles County Circuit Court (1805-1835) <br>•Saint Louis City Probate Court (1876-1900, separated from county in 1876) <br>•Saint Louis County Probate Court (1804-1876).<br><br>  
•Greene County Circuit Court (1856-1873, non-inclusive) <br>•Jasper County Circuit Court (1860-1876, non-inclusive) <br>•New Madrid County Probate Court (1805-1830) <br>•Saint Charles County Circuit Court (1805-1835) <br>•Saint Louis City Probate Court (1876-1900, separated from county in 1876) <br>•Saint Louis County Probate Court (1804-1876).<br><br>  


*[http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/mojudicial/#searchDB St. Louis, Missouri Judicial Records].<br><br>  
*[http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/mojudicial/#searchDB St. Louis, Missouri Judicial Records].<br><br>
*[http://www.germanroots.com/stlouis.html St. Louis, Missouri Genealogy Resources].<br><br>
*[http://www.germanroots.com/stlouis.html St. Louis, Missouri Genealogy Resources].<br><br>


*Daughters of the American Revolution (Missouri). ''Miscellaneous Records of Missouri, 1820-1870''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971. {{FHL|447569|item|disp=FHL Film 893713 Items 1-2}}.<br><br>  
*Daughters of the American Revolution (Missouri). ''Miscellaneous Records of Missouri, 1820-1870''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971. {{FHL|447569|item|disp=FHL Film 893713 Items 1-2}}.<br><br>
*Daughters of the American Revolution. Osage Chapter (Sehalia, Missouri).&nbsp;''Miscellaneous Records, 1605-1970.&nbsp;''Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1972. {{FHL|447579|item|disp=FHL Film 893713 Item 4}}.<br><br>  
*Daughters of the American Revolution. Osage Chapter (Sehalia, Missouri).&nbsp;''Miscellaneous Records, 1605-1970.&nbsp;''Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1972. {{FHL|447579|item|disp=FHL Film 893713 Item 4}}.<br><br>
*Woodruff, Audrey Lee Wagner.''Missouri Miscellany: State-wide Missouri Genealogical Records by the Publishers of "Missouri Pioneers".'' Independence, Missouri: A. Woodruff, 1976-1984. {{FHL|19663|item|disp=FHL Book 977.8 D2w v.1-17}}.<br><br>  
*Woodruff, Audrey Lee Wagner.''Missouri Miscellany: State-wide Missouri Genealogical Records by the Publishers of "Missouri Pioneers".'' Independence, Missouri: A. Woodruff, 1976-1984. {{FHL|19663|item|disp=FHL Book 977.8 D2w v.1-17}}.<br><br>
*Hodges, Nadine.&nbsp;''Missouri Pioneers, County and Genealogical Records''. Kansas City, Missouri: N. Hodges &amp; A.L.W. Woodruff, 1967-. {{FHL|149466|item|disp=FHL Book 977.8 D2h v. 1-30}}. Digital versions of Vol. 2-11 can be viewed at this link.
*Hodges, Nadine.&nbsp;''Missouri Pioneers, County and Genealogical Records''. Kansas City, Missouri: N. Hodges &amp; A.L.W. Woodruff, 1967-. {{FHL|149466|item|disp=FHL Book 977.8 D2h v. 1-30}}. Digital versions of Vol. 2-11 can be viewed at this link.


=== Learn More ===
===Learn More===


=== Published Materials ===
===Published Materials===


*Kelley, Henry S., John B. Gage, and William Patterson Borland. ''A Treatise on the Law Relating to the Powers....of Executors....the Jurisdiction and Powers and Duties of the Probate Courts....adapted to the laws of Missouri....''Kansas City, Mo.&nbsp;: Vernon Law Book Company, 1913. View at [http://www.archive.org/details/treatiseonlawrel00kell Internet Archive].<br><br>  
*Kelley, Henry S., John B. Gage, and William Patterson Borland. ''A Treatise on the Law Relating to the Powers....of Executors....the Jurisdiction and Powers and Duties of the Probate Courts....adapted to the laws of Missouri....''Kansas City, Mo.&nbsp;: Vernon Law Book Company, 1913. View at [http://www.archive.org/details/treatiseonlawrel00kell Internet Archive].<br><br>
*Coke, Jennifer A. ''Missouri Probate: Beyond the Basics''. National Business Institute, 2001.<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/title/missouri-probate-beyond-the-basics/oclc/46895514?referer=di&ht=edition WorldCat entry].<br><br>  
*Coke, Jennifer A. ''Missouri Probate: Beyond the Basics''. National Business Institute, 2001.<br>[http://www.worldcat.org/title/missouri-probate-beyond-the-basics/oclc/46895514?referer=di&ht=edition WorldCat entry].<br><br>
*Nevins, Francis M. ''Missouri Probate: Intestacy, Wills, and Basic Administration''. Harrison Co., 1983. [http://www.worldcat.org/title/missouri-probate-intestacy-wills-and-basic-administration/oclc/10431867&referer=brief_results WorldCat entry].
*Nevins, Francis M. ''Missouri Probate: Intestacy, Wills, and Basic Administration''. Harrison Co., 1983. [http://www.worldcat.org/title/missouri-probate-intestacy-wills-and-basic-administration/oclc/10431867&referer=brief_results WorldCat entry].


=== Websites ===
===Websites===
:* Missouri State Archives, State Information Center, P.O. Box 778, Jefferson City, MO 65102, Telephone: 573-751-3280, <br>[http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/ Missouri State Archives]
 
:* Ancestry.com
:*Missouri State Archives, State Information Center, P.O. Box 778, Jefferson City, MO 65102, Telephone: 573-751-3280, <br>[http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/ Missouri State Archives]
:* FamilySearch.org
:*Ancestry.com
:* [http://www.sos.mo.gov/mdh Missouri Digital Heritage]<br><br>
:*FamilySearch.org
:*[http://www.sos.mo.gov/mdh Missouri Digital Heritage]<br><br>


=== References ===
===References===


<references />  
<references />  
Line 62: Line 65:
{{Missouri|Missouri}}  
{{Missouri|Missouri}}  


[[Category:Missouri, United States|Probate]][[Category:United States Probate Records]]
[[Category:Missouri, United States|Probate]]
[[Category:United States Probate Records]]
70

edits