Australia, Victoria, Index to Probate Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection of probate registers from the State of Victoria covers the years 1841-1990.

The collection consists of an index to probate registers for Victoria located in the Public Record Office in Melbourne, Australia. Most of the documentation listed in the probate registers are wills handwritten in narrative form.

The Probate Registry is responsible for determining, on application for a grant of representation, what document or documents constitute the last will of the deceased and/or who is entitled to be the personal representative of the deceased. When these determinations have been made, a grant is issued to the estate of the deceased person.

While probate records are one of the most accurate sources of genealogical evidence, they must be used with caution. Some family information may not be complete or may be omitted; such as the mention of children from a previous marriage, it may give inaccurate relationships of people mentioned in the document, it may omit the names of others that may had previously received their inheritance, etc.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the data and images published on FamilySearch.org. It may include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content


The key genealogical facts found in most will records are:


 * Name of testator
 * Death date
 * Place of residence and address
 * Occupation
 * Date of testament
 * Declaration
 * Names of children or heirs
 * Name of spouse
 * Name of administrator of will
 * Guardians and relationships
 * Nature of grant
 * Witnesses

Items of Interest Include:


 * Name of the person mentioned in the document
 * File, folder or jacket number
 * Locality
 * Record type
 * Page number
 * Line number
 * Date of entry
 * Digital identification number
 * Film number

How to Use the Record
Depending on the length or type of testament one can find genealogical information to extend research for additional generations of ancestors. Wills may provide historical family information not found elsewhere. They are often the only record for the time period before census records became available, where all members of a family might be listed, or before the civil registration was implemented.

While probate records are one of the most accurate sources of genealogical evidence, they must be used with caution. Some family information may not be complete or may be omitted; such as the mention of children from a previous marriage; it may give inaccurate relationships of people mentioned in the document or omit the names of others that may had previously received their inheritance, etc.

To search this collection, it would be helpful to know the following information: To begin your search, it is helpful to know the name and some other identifying information such as the birth place or birth date.

Search the Collection
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.

To search the collection image by image, ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the appropriate "Surname Range" which takes 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.

Record History
The probates and wills in this collection were kept and recorded by several different government offices over time (Supreme Court of N.S.W. for the District of Port Phillip; Master of Equity, Supreme Court; Master of the Supreme Court; and Registrar of Probates, Supreme Court). The probates and wills were subsequently archived in the Public Record Office Victoria where they have been maintained in two separate series: Probate and Administration Files (Series VPRS 28) and Wills (VPRS 7591). The wills in this collection were originally among the estate papers in a probate application but were subsequently separated. The most recent probate records (2002 and later) are available only from the Victorian Probate Office.

Related Websites
Australian Bureau of Statistics: The population census - a brief history

Related Wiki Articles
Australia Probate Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from the record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find th record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you do not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

You are Invited to Add Source Citations for a Record in This Collection. Please add sample citations to this article following the format guidelines listed above.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
"Australia, Victoria Probate Registers, 1840-1990 index and images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org: accessed 7 October 2011 entry for Alfred Baker, died 7 September 1886 citing Court Records; Public Record Office of Victoris, Melborne, Victoria, Australia.