FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Pennsylvania/Tasks-Probate Intro

WikiProject Pennsylvania Progress Chart Pennsylvania Wiki Project Task - Probate Intro

Description [edit | edit source]

The purpose of this task is to add the intro template and the ending template to the Probate Records heading.

Instructions[edit | edit source]

1. Under the Probate Records Heading add the following template:

{{PA Probate Intro}}

2. At the end of the Probate records section (after any databases or FHLC entries that are listed) and just before the Repositories heading, add the following template:

{{PA probate FHLC and WorldCat|1|2}}

3. Replace the number "1" in the template with the name of your county between the pipes, such as Berks.

4. Replace the number "2" and add the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) subject number. Find the subject number as follows:

a. Do a place search of the FHLC for your county.

b. Select Probate Records from the record groups displayed.

c. Select any record displayed.

d. Select the highlighted phrase under the word "Subjects".

e. Copy the number displayed in the upper right-hand corner in the display box "For". This is the subject number.

f. Paste this number into the PA probate FHLC and WorldCat template where you see the number

5. Your new finished template should look something like this:

{{PA probate FHLC and WorldCat|Berks|452254}}

6. If there is no probate topic for your county, instead add the following template replacing the word "Berks" with the name of your county:

{{PA probate FHLC and WorldCat2|Berks}} 7. Save the page and you are finished with the task. == Example of Task == === Probate Records === Probate matters in Berks County, Pennsylvania are handled by the Orphans' Court. To obtain original probate records, contact the Orphan's Court in the County Courthouse. In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates of decedents, incompetents, and minors; appointment and control of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills involving probate matters; inheritance tax appeals and various petitions and motions. '''Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts''' Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as '''''Berks County Pennsylvania probate wills''''' in online catalogs like: *[http://discover.hsp.org/Search/Results?lookfor={{{1}}}+county+probate+wills&type=AllFields&submit=Find Historical Society of Pennsylvania] *[http://www.worldcat.org/search?q={{{1}}}+county+pennsylvania+probate+wills&qt=results_page WorldCat] (For instructions see [[WorldCat Online Catalog]]). *{{FHL|{{{2}}}|subject-id|disp=Family History Library Catalog}} (For instructions see [[Family History Library Catalog Place-name Search|FHL Catalog Place-name Search]]). == Example of Completed Probate Records Section == Probate matters in Berks County, Pennsylvania are handled by the Orphans' Court. To obtain original probate records, contact the Orphan's Court in the County Courthouse. In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates of decedents, incompetents, and minors; appointment and control of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills involving probate matters; inheritance tax appeals and various petitions and motions. '''Online Probate Indexes''' :*'''1626-1836''' – [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=6393 Pennsylvania Wills, 1626-1836] on [http://www.ancestry.com/ Ancestry]. Taken from Fernow, Berthold, comp. and ed. "Calendar of Wills." New York, NY, USA: 1896. - ($). :*'''1878-1939''' – [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~palackaw/wills/index.html Will Index, Lackawanna County], located on [http://www.pagenweb.org/ PAGenWeb] - also includes deceased's death date '''Online Probate Records''' Original probate records for some Pennsylvania counties are available free online as digital images at [https://www.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch.org]. The dates vary significantly for each county and not all counties are listed. Some counties may only have probate indexes. This Pennsylvania collection of images may be browsed through the links listed below: Complete Collection: :*'''1683-1994''' – {{RecordSearch|1999196|Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994}} at [https://www.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch.org] Berks County Only: :*'''1752–1915''' – [https://www.familysearch.org/search/image/index#uri=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.familysearch.org%2Frecords%2Fwaypoint%2FMM5Y-7N2%3A288123488%3Fcc%3D1999196 Berks County Probate Records] '''Original Probate Records on Microfilm''' :*'''1752–1860''' – Wills {{FHL|196402|item|disp=FHL film 20722 (first of 8 films)}} - Index included: 1752-1915 :*'''1752-1851''' – Administration Letters and Bonds {{FHL|196590|item|disp=FHL film 20812 (first of 8 films)}} - Index included: 1752 - 1915 :*'''1752-1915''' – Estate Files {{FHL|536648|item|disp=FHL film 1644017 (first of 337 films)}} - Arranged alphabetically by surname '''Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts''' Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as '''''Berks County Pennsylvania probate wills''''' in online catalogs like: :*[http://discover.hsp.org/Search/Results?lookfor={{{1}}}+county+probate+wills&type=AllFields&submit=Find Historical Society of Pennsylvania] :*[http://www.worldcat.org/search?q={{{1}}}+county+pennsylvania+probate+wills&qt=results_page WorldCat] (For instructions see [[WorldCat Online Catalog]]). :*{{FHL|{{{2}}}|subject-id|disp=Family History Library Catalog}} (For instructions see [[Family History Library Catalog Place-name Search|FHL Catalog Place-name Search]]). [[Category:WikiProject_Pennsylvania|Tasks]]