Canada, Saskatchewan Probate Estate Files - FamilySearch Historical Records

Canada Saskatchewan

What is in the Collection?
This collection includes probate records from 1887 to 1931.

These records include an index and images of probate estate files for Saskatchewan. The estate records contain loose papers relating to the settlement of estates including guardianship records as well as distribution of funds, land and property.

There is no central repository for probate records in Saskatchewan. The province is divided into fifteen judicial districts (See Canada Probate Records). Original wills and records of estates are filed with the clerk of the court of the judicial district, from whom certified copies may be obtained.

The fifteen judicial courthouses in Saskatchewan are located at the following places:


 * Assiniboia
 * Battleford
 * Estevan
 * Humboldt
 * Kerrobert
 * Melfort
 * Melville
 * Moose
 * Jaw
 * Prince Albert
 * Regina
 * Saskatoon
 * Swift Current
 * Weyburn
 * Wynyard
 * Yorkton

Current records are available through these courthouses.

Most court records prior to 1931 are under the jurisdiction of the Saskatchewan Archives Board. Probate records before 1930 are usually at provincial archives, with microfilm copies at the appropriate court. You may also send questions to the Registrar of Estates and Wills, Regina Courthouse (see the Saskatchewan Archives and Libraries wiki article for addresses).

Court records are filed by court of jurisdiction. They are sequentially numbered for each year and then indexed under the name of the plaintiff and the name of the defendant. More recent probate records are usually only at the court. You may need to contact or visit the archive or court to obtain all of the papers.

Probate records were kept by probate or surrogate courts. Often the size of the estate determined which court held jurisdiction. Search the records of all probate courts in all places where the individual had property.

If you want to learn more about Canadian probate records, look at the Canada Probate Records article to find more information.

For a list of records by localities currently published in this collection, select the Browse link from the collection landing page.

Collection Content
Probate and estate files are especially useful when trying to prove a relationship between two or more individuals. To ensure that the property went to the correct person, relationships (such as 'son,' 'aunt,' or 'sister-in-law') were often named in detail. This is ideal for a genealogist who needs proof to move on to the next generation in a family or needs help fleshing out a complete family group.

In cases where birth, marriage, and death records began too late, probate and estate records may be completely necessary to prove family connections.

What Can this Collection Tell Me?
Probate Estate records may contain the following information


 * Death date
 * Names of heirs and guardians
 * Relationships
 * Residences
 * An inventory of the estate
 * Names of witnesses

How Do I Search the Collection?
To begin your search it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor.
 * The approximate year of death and probate.
 * The place where your ancestor died and filed their probate.
 * The names of family members and their relationships.

Search by Name by visiting the Collection Page: Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page: To search this collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select "Browse Images" on the initial search page ⇒Select the appropriate “Judicial District” ⇒Select the appropriate “Year” ⇒Select the appropriate “File Number,” which will take you to the images.

Search the collection by image, comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s probate record, carefully evaluate each piece of information about them. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * Use the information to determine other record sets to look at. For instance, if the probate file mentions other family members, it may be useful to look for a probate file under their names too.

I Can't Find Who I'm Looking for, What Now?

 * Try searching for the death certificate of your ancestor. That will give you information on where your ancestor died and where the probate court was held.
 * Try looking for a nickname that the ancestor had during their life time.

Citing this Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image. Collection Citation:

Record Citation (or citation for the index entry):

Image Citation: