Canada, Nova Scotia Probate Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes probate records from 1760-1993. These records include probate proceedings from Nova Scotia, such as estate files, inventories, wills, administrations, and other records related to probate. Most of the records are dated from 1800-1940, but coverage varies by area.

Probate records such as wills, inventories, and administrations are very helpful. Many of these records give names, dates, residences, possessions, and relationships. Probate and estate files are especially useful when trying to prove a relationship between two or more individuals. To ensure that the property went to the correct person, relationships (such as 'son,' 'aunt,' or 'sister-in-law') were often named in detail.

Counties in the collection:


 * Annapolis
 * Antigonish
 * Barrington District
 * Cape Breton
 * Colchester
 * Cumberland
 * Guysborough District
 * Hants
 * Inverness
 * Kings
 * Lunenburg
 * Pictou
 * Queens
 * Richmond
 * Shelburne District
 * Victoria
 * Yarmouth

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

Probate


 * Name of deceased
 * Death date
 * Names of heirs and guardians
 * Relationship to the deceased
 * Last residence
 * An inventory of the estate
 * Names of witnesses

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:


 * The name of your ancestor
 * The name of a relative or date of the event

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :


 * 1) Select the County
 * 2) Select the Volume Title and Year to view the images.

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?

 * Cite the record. See below for help citing this collection
 * Use the information you have found to find the person in census records
 * Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900

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

 * Consult the Nova Scotia Record Finder to find other records
 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This can help you find possible relatives
 * Search the records of nearby areas
 * Check for other names. An individual might appear under an unexpected name for a variety of reasons:
 * They might have been listed under a middle name, nickname, or abbreviation of their given name
 * A woman may have returned to her maiden name after the death of her husband

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Nova Scotia.


 * Nova Scotia Guided Research
 * Record Finder

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.