Norway, Probate Index Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records

Foreign Language Title
Norge. Tinglysningskort 1640-1903

Collection Time Period
This collection is an index to probates for the years 1640-1903.

How to Use the Record
To search the index you will need to know the following:


 * The parish of residence.
 * The approximate death or probate date.
 * The name of the deceased.

Use the locator information found in the index (such as page number) to locate your ancestors in the probate records. Compare the information in the record to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct person. You may need to compare the information of more than one person to make this determination.

When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family. For example:


 * Use probate records to identify heirs and relatives.
 * Use the names and relationships as the basis for compiling family groups.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have died in the same parish or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.
 * If you are unable to find the ancestors you are seeking, look in neighboring farms and parishes.

Keep in mind that there is some variation in the information given from one record to another record. Note: This index does not cover all of Norway. For a list of the counties covered see the “Record Description” section below.

Record Description
The cards are typed or handwritten. The index does not cover all of Norway. The Family History Library has indexes for the following counties:


 * Akershus
 * Aust-Agder
 * Buskerud
 * Hedmark
 * Oppland
 * Østfold
 * Rogaland
 * Telemark
 * Vest-Agder
 * Vestfold

The indexes are grouped by county, then by registration district (Sorenskriveri). In each district the cards are arranged alphabetically by the name of the farm where the deceased lived, and then chronologically by year. The alphabetical arrangement begins with AA followed by A and ends with Æ and Ø.

Record Content
Each card contains the following information:


 * Probate district
 * Volume (inclusive dates)
 * Page number
 * Farm name
 * Parish
 * Date of probate
 * Name of the deceased &amp; spouse
 * Name of children/heirs
 * Decision of the court

Record History
These index cards were created by staff of the regional archives (statsarkiv). As not all archives chose to create these indexes, national coverage is incomplete. For the indexes that do exist, they generally begin with the first volume of probates and go forward, but they do not all end at the same date. For example, the card index for Sør-Gudbrandsdal Sorenskriveri in Oppland County begins with volume 1 in 1682, but ends in 1859. The card index for Bamble Sorenskriver in Telemark County begins in 1695 with volume 2, and ends in 1972 with volume 11.

Why this Record Was Created
The index was created to provide quick access to specific probate records.

Record Reliability
The index is generally very reliable because it is transcribed for the court documents. However, as with any index transcription errors may occur.

Related Web Sites
A map showing what probate indexes are available on microfilm at the Family History Library and Family History Centers can be found here.

Related Wiki Articles
Norway Probate Records

Sources of Information for This Collection
Norway, Probate Index Cards, 1640-1903, database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/); citing Title of the film collection, Foreign language of the title of the collection, National Archives of Norway, Oslo. FHL microfilm, 17 rolls. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections Please add sample citations to this article following the format guidelines in the wiki article listed above.

Examples of citations

 * United States. Bureau of the Census. 12th census, 1900, digital images, From FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: September 29, 2006), Arizona Territory, Maricopa, Township 1, East Gila, Salt River Base and Meridian; sheet 9B, line 71
 * Mexico, Distrito Federal, Catholic Church Records, 1886-1933, digital images, from FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: April 22, 2010), Baptism of Adolfo Fernandez Jimenez, 1 Feb. 1910, San Pedro Apóstol, Cuahimalpa, Distrito Federal, Mexico, film number 0227023