Iowa, Marshall County Probate Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection consists of digital images of probate records from the office of the Marshall County Clerk of the District Court for the years 1878-1932. 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.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
Probate records may contain the following information:
 * Name of testator or deceased
 * Names of heirs such as spouse, children, and other relatives or friends
 * Name of executor, administrator, or guardian
 * Names of witnesses
 * Residence of testator
 * Dates the documents were written and recorded (Used to approximate event dates, i.e. a will was usually written near the time of death)
 * Description and value of personal property or land owned by the deceased

Iowa probate records date from about 1834, when the first county in the state was created. A probate court was created in each county when Iowa became an organized territory. These courts were responsible for settling estates. Probate courts were eventually discontinued, and probate matters have since been the responsibility of the district courts. Before 1887 some probate cases were settled in circuit courts and from 1851 to 1868, some in county courts. You can write to the clerk of the district court for copies of wills, administrations, dockets, calendars, and other records.

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the deceased
 * The approximate date of death or probate

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select the Volume Title
 * 2) Select  the 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?

 * Use the probate record to identify adoptions, guardians, heirs and relatives
 * Use the probate record to approximate a death date, then find a death certificate
 * For earlier years, use the probate record to substitute for civil birth and death records
 * Search for vital records such as birth, marriage, and death
 * Use the information found in the record to find immigration and land records
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in census records

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

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials

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.

"Iowa, Marshall County Probate Records, 1853-1933." Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2018. Citing Marshall County Courthouse, Marshalltown, Iowa.
 * Collection Citation:

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