South Africa, Western Cape, Estate Files - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes records from 1966-2004.

These records include images of copies of primary genealogical records such as death notices, marriage certificates, birth certificates, and wills, from the probate estate files located in the Master of the High Court Offices in Cape Town. This collection is being published as images become available.

Reading These Records
These records are in Afrikaans and English. For help reading them see:
 * Afrikaans Word List
 * Netherlands Language and Languages
 * South Africa Language and Languages

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Estate Files


 * Name
 * Place of residence
 * Date of birth
 * Place of birth
 * Date of death
 * Place of death


 * Names of witnesses
 * Name of spouse
 * Race
 * Nationality
 * Occupation
 * Marital status
 * Name of deceased's father
 * Name of deceased's mother
 * Parent's date of death
 * Full names of children
 * Children's date of death
 * Spouse's date of death

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name
 * Approximate year of death
 * Place of death

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

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

 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Try searching by surname only
 * 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 South Africa.
 * South Africa Record Finder
 * South Africa Finding Town of Origin

Citing 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.

África do Sul, Cabo Ocidental, Arquivos do Estado (Registros Históricos do FamilySearch)