Source: https://ldsgenealogy.com/Locating-Probate-Records.htm
Timestamp: 2019-08-24 22:13:56
Document Index: 107778046

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What probate records are and how to determine where they may have been recorded
A probate is a court proceeding to supervise the orderly transfer of assets from a deceased person to his or her heirs. Probate records are extremely valuable in genealogy research because they commonly contain information about more than one generation of family relationships. Normally, in all probates, the administrator or executor (administratrix or executrix) of the estate is required by the probate laws to make an inventory of the assets of the estate. These probate inventories can become an open window into the lives of your ancestors' families.
The court system has always had especially established courts or divisions of the court system to handle probate matters. In the United States, these courts are usually based in the county court system. Depending on the size of the case load in a county, the probate court may or may not be an entirely separate division. In smaller counties, probate matters are mixed in with everything else. In larger, more populous counties, probate actions may be handled by an entirely separately maintained court division. The following is a quote from the FamilySearch Research Wiki that should give you the idea that your first task in researching probate matters is to figure out which court or other entity has the records:
Determine the exact place of death. It may be necessary to do extensive research into other types of records in order to determine where the person died.
From probate records, you can sometimes see things like the variety of the possessions of your ancestor and his family. You may also get an understanding of the size and configuration of his house.
You can even form an opinion about how rich or poor he was. Even if you can't find your own ancestor's probate file, other files from the same town and time period will give you a good idea of the economic circumstances of the times and your ancestor's surroundings.
The following videos can give you more information about using probate records.
Probate Records, Part 1, In the Beginning
Probate Records, Part 2, Wills
Probate Records, Part 3, The Wording of Wills
Probate Records, Part 4, What is Probate?
Probate Records, Part 5, What are Probate Procedures?
Probate Records, Part 6, Finding Probate Documents
Probate Records, Part 7, Example of a Probate File
Probate Records, Part 8, Trusts
Probate Records, Part 9, What Happens When Probate Gets Complicated
Searching for Death Information Tips on finding death certificates and obituaries
About New England Town Records Why New England town records can be useful