Missouri Probate Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection "Missouri, Probate Records, 1750-1998" includes probate records created by county courts including wills and records of estates. Most of the records in this collection fall between 1840 and 1930, but the content and years of the court records varies by county. In a few instances, if the court heard other cases in addition to probate, such as civil disputes or even some criminal matters, the records are mixed in with the probate records. The collection "Missouri, Andrew and Cole County Probate Records, 1826-1945" consists of images of probate estate files from Cole, Clinton and Andrew County which were scanned at the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City, Missouri.

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

Probate files may include wills, petitions, inventories, accounts, decrees, and other court documents.


 * 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
 * Document and recording dates (Used to approximate event dates i.e., a will was usually written near time of death.)

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


 * The name of your ancestor
 * The place where the person died

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.

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?

 * Use a probate record to identify adoptions, guardians, heirs and relatives
 * Use a will to approximate a death date, then find a death certificate
 * Use the information in the probate record to substitute for civil birth and death records for earlier years
 * Use the information to locate census, christenings, marriage and land records
 * Use the occupations to find employment or military records

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

 * Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Missouri.


 * Missouri Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

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.