FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Pennsylvania/Tasks-Probate Intro

WikiProject Pennsylvania Progress Chart  Pennsylvania Wiki Project Task - Probate Intro

Description
The purpose of this task is to add the intro template and the ending template to the Probate Records heading.

Instructions
1. Under the Probate Records Heading add the following template:



2. At the end of the Probate records section (after any databases or FHLC entries that are listed) and just before the Repositories heading, add the following template:



3. Replace the number "1" in the template with the name of your county between the pipes, such as Berks.

4. Replace the number "2" and add the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) subject number. Find the subject number as follows:


 * a. Do a place search of the FHLC for your county.
 * b. Select Probate Records from the record groups displayed.
 * c. Select any record displayed.
 * d. Select the highlighted phrase under the word "Subjects".
 * e. Copy the number displayed in the upper right-hand corner in the display box "For". This is the subject number.
 * f. Paste this number into the PA probate FHLC and WorldCat template where you see the number

5. Your new finished template should look something like this:



6. If there is no probate topic for your county, instead add the following template replacing the word "Berks" with the name of your county:



7. Save the page and you are finished with the task.

Probate Records
Probate matters in Berks County, Pennsylvania are handled by the Orphans' Court. To obtain original probate records, contact the Orphan's Court in the County Courthouse.

In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates of decedents, incompetents, and minors; appointment and control of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills involving probate matters; inheritance tax appeals and various petitions and motions.

Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts

Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Berks County Pennsylvania probate wills in online catalogs like:


 * Historical Society of Pennsylvania
 * WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
 * (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search).

Example of Completed Probate Records Section
Probate matters in Berks County, Pennsylvania are handled by the Orphans' Court. To obtain original probate records, contact the Orphan's Court in the County Courthouse.

In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates of decedents, incompetents, and minors; appointment and control of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills involving probate matters; inheritance tax appeals and various petitions and motions.

Online Probate Indexes


 * 1626-1836 – Pennsylvania Wills, 1626-1836 on Ancestry. Taken from Fernow, Berthold, comp. and ed. "Calendar of Wills." New York, NY, USA: 1896. - ($).
 * 1878-1939 – Will Index, Lackawanna County, located on PAGenWeb - also includes deceased's death date

Online Probate Records

Original probate records for some Pennsylvania counties are available free online as digital images at FamilySearch.org. The dates vary significantly for each county and not all counties are listed. Some counties may only have probate indexes. This Pennsylvania collection of images may be browsed through the links listed below:

Complete Collection:


 * 1683-1994 – at FamilySearch.org

Berks County Only:


 * 1752–1915 – Berks County Probate Records

Original Probate Records on Microfilm


 * 1752–1860 – Wills - Index included: 1752-1915
 * 1752-1851 – Administration Letters and Bonds - Index included: 1752 - 1915
 * 1752-1915 – Estate Files - Arranged alphabetically by surname

Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts

Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Berks County Pennsylvania probate wills in online catalogs like:


 * Historical Society of Pennsylvania
 * WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
 * (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search).