Canada, Nova Scotia Probate Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Canada Nova Scotia

What is in this Collection?
This collection includes probate records from 1760-1993.

These records include probate proceedings from Nova Scotia, such as estate files, inventories, wills, administrations, and other records related to probate. Most of the records are dated from 1800-1940, but coverage varies by area.

Probate records such as wills, inventories, and administrations are very helpful. Many of these records give names, dates, residences, possessions, and relationships. More information about Nova Scotia probate records can be found in this wiki article.

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 records may contain the following information:


 * Name of deceased
 * Death date
 * Names of heirs and guardians
 * Relationship to the deceased
 * Last residence
 * 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 the date of probate.
 * The names of family members and their relationships who may be named in the probate file.

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 "County" ⇒Select the appropriate "Volume Title and Year" which will take you to the images.

Look at the images one by one, 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 names of the family members to search for birth records. FamilySearch has two birth collections for Nova Scotia, ranging from 1702-1896.
 * Use the name of the spouse (if married) to search for a marriage record. FamilySearch has three different marriage collections for Nova Scotia, ranging from 1711-1932.

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

 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.
 * Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community.
 * Probate records may omit the names of deceased family members or those who previously received an inheritance.
 * The spouse mentioned in a will may not be the parent of the children mentioned.

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.

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