Connecticut Probate Records

United States   Connecticut    Probate Records UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Record Synopsis
Probate is the “court procedure by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid” and encompasses “all matters and proceedings pertaining to the administration of estates, guardianships, etc.” Various types of records are created throughout the probate process. These may include, wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. These documents are extremely valuable to genealogists and should not be neglected. In many instances, they are the only known source of relevant information such as the decedent’s date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their places of residence. They may also include information about adoption or guardianship of minor children and dependents. For further information about probate records and the probate process see United States Probate Records.

History
Probate records in Connecticut are kept by probate district courts. In many cases a probate district consisted of a larger community and several nearby smaller towns. Sometimes a probate district crossed county boundaries.

Local

 * The Connecticut State Library has numerous files of wills, bonds, letters, and other probate documents. For more information, go to http://www.cslib.org/probintr.htm


 * You can obtain copies of probate records from the local probate district offices.

National

 * The Family History Library located in Salt Lake City, Utah has most of the pre-1880 probate packets arranged by district and then by surname on 1,622 microfilms. These packets can include wills, codicils, bonds, applications and petitions, inventories, court orders, court returns, distributions, accounts of administration, receipts, and miscellaneous probate records. For collection details see the Family History Library Catalog. Use the "Place Search" option to search for a specific Connecticut county or town. Then look for the topic labeled "Probate Records."

Statewide Record Collections

 * The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut (see Connecticut Public Records).

The Connecticut State Library's index to these records for 1641 to 1948 is also at the Family History Library (FHL films 166000-66). This is listed in the Family History Library Catalog under CONNECTICUT - PROBATE RECORDS - INDEXES.

Published Materials

 * The Connecticut State Library has created a helpful online research guide for determining Connecticut probate districts and available records. To access the online Research Guide to Connecticut Probate Districts click Here.


 * Kemp, Thomas J. Connecticut Researcher's Handbook. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research Company, 1981. (.); The book describes each of Connecticut's probate districts and contains a detailed list of available sources.


 * Melnyk, Marcia D. Genealogist's Handbook for New England Research, 4th ed. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999. (.)