Wills & ProbatesWills & Probates

Probate records are useful in your search for ancestors

1. 1st they relate information already gathered 2. They are legal documents and are reliable

information as long as you interpret it correctly3. Wills are the most common form of records4. They furnish you with relationships5. They give you glimpses into the persons life, family

secrets, household items, and feelings about family members

http://ancestry.com/library/view/ancmag/3644.asp

Identify the IndividualIdentify the Individual

Use the ancestors full name Try to find as much information as you can

such as:1. Death dates2. Death place (be careful not to assume the place)3. Marriage information 4. Any additional information about the person or the

family

Identify the Place of DeathIdentify the Place of Death

Most wills & probates are filed in the county where the individual was living when they died.

Watch because some cities changed their boundaries

If there was more than one marriage, could the person have been living with one of the children at the time of death

Learn Where The Records are Kept

Learn Where The Records are Kept

Usually filed at the county level at the court houseThey can be filed in unexpected places or locationsLocal historical societiesSome have been microfilmed and are at the Family

History libraryLook for an index of the probate records Probate laws and the associated records will differ from

state to state

Learn what records are available

Learn what records are available

WillsProbateInventoriesDistributions of estatesLetters of administrationSales of estateInquest documentsMake sure you request all records concerning your

ancestor

Access the recordsAccess the records

Learn the correct procedure for securing a copy of the information

1. You can visit in person2. Email or snail mail (remember the SASE)3. Make sure you know the correct amount of money

to send4. Keep a correspondence log5. See if there is anything in your county that could be

on the internet

Analyze and record the information

Analyze and record the information

Once you have the wills then that is when the fun begins.

Be careful not to read things into the documentTake notes regarding the information foundNames that appear on the documentsLeave no line unreadNote the witnesses they could be family

Pitfalls in using Wills and Probates

Pitfalls in using Wills and Probates

Extracts are secondary sourcesDon’t make assumptions, it can be misleadingBe careful of terms of relationships, Wills are not always filed immediately after a deathWitnesses cannot be beneficiaries, but are often a

relativeA wife listed may or may not be the mother of the

childrenRemember boundaries have changed over time

WebsitesWebsites

www.bcgcertification.org/skillbuilders/skbld955.html http://members.aol.com/mayflo1620/wills.html http://genealogy.about.com/cs/willshttp://www.mylawyer.com/glossary.htmhttp://www.cyndislist.com/wills.htm#General