This document is a basic guide to researching probate records.
Comments are welcome.
It is best to visit courthouses in person, because only you can trace all possible variations on your family name and only you can follow information contained in one record and trace the name through other records. If you write to a courthouse, expect them to do a limited search for the exact record you require, sometimes requiring a search fee. In most cases, however, the search is free but you will be required to pay for copies of records. The court must approve any will before it can be probated, and if it does not gain such approval, it becomes intestate. The maker of the will usually names one or more executors to carry out its provisions, but if one is not named, or the executor died before the testator did, then the court appoints an administrator.