Indiana Probate Records

United States   Probate Records   Indiana Probate

Record Synposis
Probate is the “court procedure by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid” and encompasses “all matters and proceedings pertaining to the administration of estates, guardianships, etc.” Various types of records are created throughout the probate process. These may include, wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. These documents are extremely valuable to genealogists and should not be neglected. In many instances, they are the only known source of relevant information such as the decedent’s date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their places of residence. They may also include information about adoption or guardianship of minor children and dependents. For further information about the probate process, types of probate records, analyzing probate records, and to access a glossary of probate terms, see United States Probate Records.

History
Until statehood, the following courts had jurisdiction:


 * Probate Court (1790–1805),
 * Orphans Court (1795– 1805),
 * Court of Common Pleas (1806–1813),
 * Circuit Court (1814–1816).

Wills were to be recorded in separate ledgers (1807–1816). After statehood, the Circuit Court (1817–1830), had probate jurisdiction, but separate ledgers rarely were kept, especially prior to 1825, and most courts mixed probate proceedings with other court actions. While many courts began keeping separate probate ledgers in 1825, the primary ledger was called a "Record of Last Wills and Testamentary." Many wills were recorded here and, upon rebinding, were called "Will Records." Not all wills, however, were recorded in this ledger.

In 1829 a separate Probate Court was legislated and, with it, separate Probate Order Books. This court was replaced in 1853 with the Court of Common Pleas. It was abolished in 1873 and its jurisdiction was transferred to the Circuit Court. Many Order Books continued sequential numbering. For most counties, the court with probate jurisdiction has been the Circuit Court. Certain exceptions exist. Superior Courts in Lake, Laporte and Porter counties, for example, have had probate jurisdiction since 1899, and separate Probate Courts were created in Marion (1907), Vanderburgh (1919), and St. Joseph (1945) counties.

State Statutes
Understanding the Indiana probate laws and how they changed over time can help us learn how the estate was administered, taxed, and distributed and might help to solve difficult genealogical problems. Online digital versions of state statutes can often be found by conducting a search engine search for the term, "Indiana statutes."

National
The Family History Library has microfilmed Probate Order Books and Probate Complete Order Books for over half of the counties in Indiana. Do not overlook the Complete, or Final, Probate Order Book. When an estate was settled, the clerk copied into these ledgers all the original papers, including bonds, wills, inventories, sale bills, settlements, and distribution of assets.

Learn More

 * Anne Roach, Courthouse Records Overview (35 minute online video)
 * FamilySearch Research Classes Online, 2010.
 * Eichholz, Alice, Editor. Redbook: American State, County, and Town Sources. Third Edition. Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004, p. 210.
 * Rose, Christine.Courthouse Research for Family Historians: Your Guide to Genealogical Treasures. San Jose, California: CR Publications, 2004.

Published Materials

 * Franklin, Charles M. Index to Indiana Wills: Phase 1, through 1850; Phase 2, 1850 through 1880. Two volumes. Indianapolis, Indiana: Heritage House, 1986-1987. This provides name, year, county, volume, and page.
 * Heiss, Willard, et al. editors. Indiana Source Book: Genealogical Material from the Hoosier Genealogist. 10 volumes to date. Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Historical Society, Family History Section, 1977-. These volumes include transcripts of wills and other records appearing in this periodical from 1961 - 1996.
 * Moudy, Vera Mae (Ginder). Directory, Wills and Estate Information in Genealogy Dept., Indiana State Library. Indianapolis, Indiana: Ye Olde Genealogie Shoppe, 1981. This is a county-by-county list of books and films at the Indiana State Library.

Websites

 * Deathindexes.com provides links to several Indiana probate records.