4,997
edits
New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Probate and Miscellaneous Records - FamilySearch Historical Records: Difference between revisions
New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Probate and Miscellaneous Records - FamilySearch Historical Records (view source)
Revision as of 09:01, 1 February 2012
, 1 February 2012no edit summary
mNo edit summary |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
== Record History == | == Record History == | ||
Anyone of legal age and sound mind, who owned property (real or personal) in New Zealand had the right to leave a will. The probate process began with a testator executing a will, followed by witnesses attesting and subscribing the will. After the death of a testator, the will was probated by the executor, usually at the court nearest the deceased’s place of residence. | Anyone of legal age and sound mind, who owned property (real or personal) in New Zealand, had the right to leave a will. The probate process began with a testator executing a will, followed by witnesses attesting and subscribing the will. After the death of a testator, the will was probated by the executor, usually at the court nearest the deceased’s place of residence. | ||
Some wills were not probated in a court. If the estate was small and there were no disagreements among the heirs, it was not necessary to probate the will. Many such wills are found only in family papers or in the private files of the lawyer who drew up the document. | Some wills were not probated in a court. If the estate was small and there were no disagreements among the heirs, it was not necessary to probate the will. Many such wills are found only in family papers or in the private files of the lawyer who drew up the document. | ||
| Line 56: | Line 56: | ||
Probate records are court records that describe the distribution of a person's estate after he or she dies. | Probate records are court records that describe the distribution of a person's estate after he or she dies. | ||
Even though probate records were not created for every person who died, they are very helpful for research because civil authorities began recording probate actions earlier than they recorded birth and death records. | Even though probate records were not created for every person who died, they are very helpful for research because civil authorities began recording probate actions earlier than they recorded birth and death records. | ||
== Related Websites == | == Related Websites == | ||