Canada, Manitoba Probate Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
The collection includes records from 1871-1930, although some indexes may cover years up to 1970.

These records include images of estate files, application books and indexes.

Between 1871 and 1982 wills and probate records were kept only at the Surrogate Registrar’s Office in the courthouse of each judicial district in Manitoba. Since 1982, the following wills and probate records are being transferred to the Provincial Archives:


 * Wills and probate records over 20 years old from courthouses outside the city of Winnipeg.
 * Wills and probate records over 60 years old from the Eastern Judicial District in Winnipeg.

A central alphabetical index, arranged by year, is maintained at the Winnipeg court office. To have the index searched in the court office, you must provide the name of the deceased and the date of death. In 1984 all indexes, wills, and probate files for the period 1882 to 1930 began to be microfilmed for use at the Provincial Archives.

For a list of records by localities and dates currently published in this collection, select the Browse link from the collection landing page.

Record Content
Probate records included in this collections include estate files, wills and letters of administration.

Probate records may contain the following information:


 * Name of deceased
 * Age at death
 * Date of death
 * Place of death
 * Locality of death
 * Heirs of the estate of the deceased

Application books may contain the following information:


 * Name of deceased
 * Residence
 * Occupation (addition)
 * Date of death
 * Name of heir, residence and occupation of the applicant

How to Use the Record
To begin your search, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:


 * Name of ancestor
 * Approximate place and year of death

Search this Collection
To search the collection image by image select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page: ⇒Select the appropriate “Judicial District" ⇒Select the appropriate “Record Type” ⇒Select the appropriate “File or Volume Number Range and Year Range” which will take you to the images.

Search the collection by image 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.

As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor’s given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence and age, and family relationships. 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.

Using the Information
When you have found the probate record of your ancestor, the following will help you further your research:


 * Use the age to calculate the approximate birth year
 * Record the names of the family members listed in the document, search for a birth record for each one of the family members.

Information about using the records in this collection are found at the Archives of Manitoba

Related Websites

 * Canada History Links
 * Canada Historic Maps

Archives of Manitoba

Related Wiki Articles

 * Canada Probate Records
 * Manitoba Probate Records

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.