Australia, Victoria, Wills, Probate and Administration Files - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of probate registers for Victoria located in the Public Records Office of Victoria (PROV), North Melbourne, Australia. A Will is a legal document that sets out the instructions of a person in relation to the distribution of his or her property after their death. The will usually names one or more persons to carry out the wishes and directions in relation to the estate. This person is called the executor/executrix. The estate can only be dealt with after the will has been approved by the Registrar of Probates. This approval is called the Grant of Probate and the document giving the approval is called Probate.

Depending on the length or type of testament you 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.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 4

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The person's name
 * Death date
 * Names of family members

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?

 * 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 Australia.
 * Record Finder
 * Australia Research Tips and Strategies

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.