Alaska, Probate Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection consists of digital images of probate records including wills from the collections at the Alaska State Archives for the years 1900 to 1959. It may also include miscellaneous court records including civil cases, criminal cases, warrants, bonds, and insanity records from 1908-1940; census records from 1875-1910; and naturalization and citizenship records from 1900-1922.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 2 Sometimes the date of death will be given. Recording dates are also used to approximate event dates, i.e. a letter of administration was usually written shortly after the time of death.)

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the individual
 * The date of the event or the name of a spouse or child

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.

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

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family
 * Use probate records to identify adoptions, guardians, heirs, and relatives
 * Use a will to approximate a death date, then find a death certificate
 * For earlier years, use the probate record to substitute for civil birth and death records

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

 * Try searching by surname only
 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Alaska.
 * Alaska Guided Research
 * Alaska Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Alaska Research, 1880-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Alaska, mixed precincts, probate records, 1899-1968

Citing For 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.