Portugal, Aveiro Testament Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Title in the Language of the Records
Testamentos de Aveiro, Portugal

Record Description
This collection of testaments (notary public wills) includes the years 1900-1936.

These records contain a collection of testaments created in the presence of notaries and housed at the Aveiro District Archive (Archivo Distrital de Aveiro). Additional images will be published as they become available. Testaments were handwritten in Portuguese and in narrative style of 2 or more pages.

A testament is a document that sets forth a person's wishes for the disposition of their property after death. Testaments (wills) in Portugal are written and kept by a notary public. A person wanting to leave a will after death goes to a notary public anywhere in Portugal and, after presenting legal identification, can start composing his will with the help of the notary public. The notary agency keeps the original document and a copy is given to the testator. The testator may also register a will in the Conservatória dos Registros Centrais (Central Conservatory of Records) in Lisbon. This entity keeps an index of registered wills and the place where it was written and kept.

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

Generally, people that have any assets, fortune, or property want to divide the fortune among family members, make donations to institutions, etc. in writing.

The genealogical data entered in a will is that of the testator, the dividing of goods, and the heirs. The information written by the notary public depends on the knowledge of the testator. This information may be correct as it may have some errors if the person was relying on memory.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the data and images published on FamilySearch.org Historical Records. It may include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Information about creating source citations for FamilySearch Historical Collections is found in the wiki article Help:How to Create Source Citations For FamilySearch Historical Records Collections.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
Key genealogical facts found in testaments (wills) may include the following information:


 * Name of notary public
 * Date and place issued
 * Name of testator
 * Place of residence and sometimes place of origin
 * Age or date of birth
 * Spouse’s name and age or birth date
 * Names of heirs and their ages or birth date and place of residence

How to Use the Records
Testaments were created in chronological order in a book kept by the notary public. If you have an approximate date of death of your ancestor, you may search the wills by date. Information in wills can help to find out the type of life or type of individual the ancestor was, can also give information not found in other records.

Known Issues with This Collection
For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection see the attached Wiki article. If you encounter additional problems, please email them to [mailto:support@familysearch.org support@familysearch.org]. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

Related Websites

 * Instituto dos registros e do notariado
 * Sucessões na Europa

Related Wiki Articles

 * Civil registration offices in Portugal
 * Portugal Websites

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
“Argentina, Buenos Aires, Catholic Church Records, 1635-1981,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 28 February, 2012), La Plata &gt; San Ponciano &gt; Matrimonios 1884-1886 &gt; image 71 of 389 images, Artemio Avendano and Clementina Peralta, 1884; citing Parroquia de San Ponciano en la Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Matrimonios. San Ponciano, La Plata, Buenos Aires.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.