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Probate records are court records relating to the distribution of a deceased person's estate. | Probate records are court records relating to the distribution of a deceased person's estate. Generally they record the deceased's date of death; names, relationships, residences of heirs and guardians; and names of witnesses. Although incomplete, records relating to probate can be traced in Ireland back to the seventeenth century for most areas of the country. | ||
Given | Given the need to leave a will stemmed from holding assets, it stands to reason that not every person who died left probate records. Most wills were left by males with property. However, wills often list the names of the deceased's family and friends, so that many more people are listed in probate records than actually left them. | ||
Some types of Irish probate documents are: | Some types of Irish probate documents are: | ||
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=== Pre-1858 Probate Courts in Ireland === | === Pre-1858 Probate Courts in Ireland === | ||
Irish probates were handled by ecclesiastical courts | Irish probates were handled by ecclesiastical courts up to 1858. Twenty-eight diocesan courts, known as consistory courts, existed. The highest court, with authority over all the ecclesiastical courts, was the Prerogative Court of Armagh (which operated from Dublin). If a person had an estate that included property in more than one diocese and was worth more than £5, that person's will would have been proved in the Prerogative Court. And in addition, the wills of wealthy people were usually proved in the Prerogative Court. | ||
For a list of the diocesan courts and the counties over which each had jurisdiction, see: | For a list of the diocesan courts and the counties over which each had jurisdiction, see: | ||
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''Irish Probates Register''. Typescript. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, 1979. (Family History Library {{FHL|941.5 P2gs|disp=book Reg. 941.5 P2gs.)}} | ''Irish Probates Register''. Typescript. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, 1979. (Family History Library {{FHL|941.5 P2gs|disp=book Reg. 941.5 P2gs.)}} | ||
Most pre-1858 probate records were destroyed when the Public Record Office in Dublin burned in 1922. Fortunately, prior to the fire, the | Most pre-1858 probate records were destroyed when the Public Record Office in Dublin burned in 1922. Fortunately, prior to the fire, the original wills and admons had been indexed. Most of the indexes survived the disaster. Microfilm copies of the indexes are available at the Family History Library. They are listed in the Place Search of the catalog under: | ||
IRELAND - PROBATE RECORDS - INDEXES | IRELAND - PROBATE RECORDS - INDEXES | ||
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For the years 1858-1877 there is a consolidated index to the calendars. Arranged by surname, the index gives the name of the deceased, the district registry where the probate was proved, and whether the probate involved a will or an admon. To find the film numbers for the Irish calendar and master index, select the calendar by Ireland, Principal Probate Registry (Dublin) in the Place Search of the catalog under IRELAND - PROBATE RECORDS - INDEXES. There existed a further consolidated index to the calendars for the period 1878 to 1900, but this was destroyed in 1922. | For the years 1858-1877 there is a consolidated index to the calendars. Arranged by surname, the index gives the name of the deceased, the district registry where the probate was proved, and whether the probate involved a will or an admon. To find the film numbers for the Irish calendar and master index, select the calendar by Ireland, Principal Probate Registry (Dublin) in the Place Search of the catalog under IRELAND - PROBATE RECORDS - INDEXES. There existed a further consolidated index to the calendars for the period 1878 to 1900, but this was destroyed in 1922. | ||
If you are searching for a will proved between 1858 and 1877, look first at the consolidated index. If you are looking for a will proved after 1877, go directly to the calendar(s). These sources will tell you the district registry where the will was proved. Once you identify the district registry, you can easily establish if a relavant will or admon books survives. District records, including indexes, that are available at the Family History Library are listed in the Place Search of the catalog under IRELAND - PROBATE RECORDS. | If you are searching for a will proved between 1858 and 1877, look first at the consolidated index. If you are looking for a will proved after 1877, go directly to the calendar(s). These sources will tell you the district registry where the will was proved. Once you identify the district registry, you can easily establish if a relavant will or admon books survives. District records, including indexes, that are available at the Family History Library are listed in the Place Search of the catalog under IRELAND - PROBATE RECORDS. | ||
=== Transcripts and Abstracts of Destroyed Probate Records === | === Transcripts and Abstracts of Destroyed Probate Records === | ||