Germany, Brandenburg, Berlin, Probate Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains Probate records from the Superior Court of the Margraviate of Brandenburg. This collection consists of probated wills which will often provide names of family members and their relationships to the testator. The collection covers the years 1796 to 1853.

Reading These Records
These records are in German. For help reading these records see the following guides:
 * German Language and Languages
 * German Genealogical Word List
 * Germany Handwriting
 * FamilySearch Learning Center videos:
 * Reading German Handwritten Records

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Probate
 * Name of deceased
 * Age
 * Residence
 * Death date and place
 * Probate date and place
 * Names of heirs (spouse and children)
 * Witnesses
 * List of property or estate inventory
 * Monies exchanged or transacted

How Do I Search This Collection?
It is helpful to know at least one of the following:
 * Your ancestor's name
 * Residence
 * Age or birth date
 * Names of family members

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the 


 * 1) Select Surname Letter and Will Number to view the images

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
Whenever possible, view the original records to verify the information and to find additional information that might not be reported. These pieces of information can lead you to additional records and family members.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the age in the citizen to find an approximate birth year to begin your search in church or civil records
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have moved, been recruited or lived nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify. Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual. This compiled list can help you identify possible relations that can be further verified by researching vital records in the country
 * When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details such as a title, an occupation, or land ownership. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors
 * Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Consult the Germany Record Finder to find other records
 * Switch to a different record collection. Depending on the time period, either German Civil Registration records or German Church records may be more useful
 * While searching, it is helpful to know such information as the ancestor’s given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence and age, and family relationships. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as an ancestor and that the ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times
 * Keep in mind that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images. Pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation
 * Search the indexes and records of local genealogical societies

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Germany.
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Germany Record Finder

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.


 * Collection Citation: "Deutschland, Preußen, Brandenburg, Testaments- und Nachlaßakten 1796-1853." Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 14 June 2016. Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv, Potsdam (Brandenburgisches State Archives, Potsdam).