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==== Record Overview ==== | ==== Record Overview ==== | ||
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 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. | ||
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 <br> | |||
=== History === | === History === | ||
Until the 1670s, wills were probated by notary publics (according to Dutch law and custom). The notaries kept these documents in their personal custody and unfortunately were not required to record them in county or state records. For the whereabouts of these records, see the [[New York|New York]] Research Outline. | Until the 1670s, wills were probated by notary publics (according to Dutch law and custom). The notaries kept these documents in their personal custody and unfortunately were not required to record them in county or state records. For the whereabouts of these records, see the [[New York|New York]] Research Outline. <br> | ||
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=== Jurisdictions === | === Jurisdictions === | ||
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The Family History Library has microfilm copies of most state probate records from 1665 through 1900 and most county probate records through the early 1900s. The state archives has microfilm copies and the originals of all records formerly held by the secretary of state, 1670 to 1901, as well as microfilms of many pre-1901 county probate records. The county surrogate's court offices generally have orphans' court records from 1785 to the present, surrogates' court records from 1804 to the present, and some earlier records. | The Family History Library has microfilm copies of most state probate records from 1665 through 1900 and most county probate records through the early 1900s. The state archives has microfilm copies and the originals of all records formerly held by the secretary of state, 1670 to 1901, as well as microfilms of many pre-1901 county probate records. The county surrogate's court offices generally have orphans' court records from 1785 to the present, surrogates' court records from 1804 to the present, and some earlier records. | ||
=== Repositories<br> === | |||
==== '''Prerogative Court, 1670 to 1784''' ==== | ==== '''Prerogative Court, 1670 to 1784''' ==== | ||
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=== Finding Probate Records === | === Finding Probate Records === | ||
=== Indexes === | |||
==== '''Indexes to State Probate Records, 1673 to 1901''' ==== | ==== '''Indexes to State Probate Records, 1673 to 1901''' ==== | ||
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New Jersey State Archives: [http://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/links/archives.html http://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/links/archives.html] | New Jersey State Archives: [http://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/links/archives.html http://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/links/archives.html] | ||
== References == | === References === | ||
''[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Search/Rg/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&Aid=&Gid=&Lid=&Sid=&Did=&Juris1=&Event=&Year=&Gloss=&Sub=&Tab=&Entry=&Guide=New_Jersey.ASP New Jersey Research Outline]''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1998, 2001.<br> | ''[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Search/Rg/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&Aid=&Gid=&Lid=&Sid=&Did=&Juris1=&Event=&Year=&Gloss=&Sub=&Tab=&Entry=&Guide=New_Jersey.ASP New Jersey Research Outline]''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1998, 2001.<br> | ||
[[Category:New_Jersey|Probate]] | [[Category:New_Jersey|Probate]] |
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