Denmark record examples of Skifteprotokollerne

Danish probate records constitute all those records generated by the Probate Court pertaining to the transfer of estate, with its rights, assets, liabilities, and obligations to the heirs (including bankruptcy and guardianship), and all documents connected with these procedures.

In Denmark it is not the will (testament) that is the most important probate record, but the records of Administrations of Estates (Skifteprotokollerne). These records affected a large portion of the Danish population. "Skifte" means to change, as change in ownership of an estate. The term "Records of Inheritance" would be more closely connected with the the title Skifteprotokoll.

The three most common types of probate records are:


 * 1) Administrations of estates (skifteprotokollerne)
 * 2) Guardianship supervisions (overformynderi protokollerne)
 * 3) Wills (testamenter)

A. Historical Background

In 1683 the establishment of the Danish Law of Christian V formed the foundation of the present Danish probate system. Following are some of the stipulations:


 * 1) Immediately following the death of persons who were survived by minor heirs, no living heirs, or heirs that were absent from home, notification of the death was to be reported to the local authority. The estate would then be sealed  for final inventory and administration.
 * 2) On the 30th day thereafter, the estate was to be registered by the proper probating authority in the presence of the heirs and their guardians. This registration was to contain an inventory and appraisement of all the property, along with a record of the total debts and assets of the death estate.  The settlement and distribution of the estate among the heirs was to be indicated.  This document was to be signed by the heirs, their guardians, and by the probating authority.
 * 3) No widower or widow could remarry before the estate had been settled with the legal heirs.
 * 4) If none of the heirs were minors, and all were present, the family could act under their own private jurisdiction unless they desired a legal probate proceeding.
 * 5) A surviving spouse could also receive permission to live in "uskiftet bo" which means to be able to retain undivided possession of the estate. There would be no distribution of inheritance to the heirs unless the surviving spouse remarried, died, or desired a distribution.
 * 6) All those who could not manage their own affairs were to have a guardian(s) appointed in their behalf. The guardian(s) was to be a qualified relative of the deceased, but if no qualified relative was available, then the court would appoint a suitable guardian.  The guardian of minor children was to be:


 * After the death of the mother, the father.
 * After the death of the father, a brother who was to be at least 25 and the oldest.
 * If only half-brothers are living, then the next of kin on the father's side.
 * If no brothers are living, then the paternal grandfather.
 * Then the maternal grandfather.
 * Paternal uncles(s).
 * Maternal uncles(s).
 * If no such relatives were living or qualified, the next nearest relative was appointed which was usually a cousin, the paternal relatives having first preference.

The most common type of guardianship found is regarding item (f) if the deceased is the father, or item (g) if the deceased is the mother. A widow could choose her own guardian subject to court aproval. These guardians would not necessarily need to be relatives.

Record content

The Skifteprotokoller usually contain the following information:


 * 1) Date of probate
 * 2) Name of deceased and place of residence.
 * 3) Sometimes the date of death is indicated.
 * 4) A listing of all legal heirs with an indication of any relationships with their residences.
 * 5) Usually ages of surviving children, especially minor children.
 * 6) Names of husbands of married female heirs and their residences.
 * 7) Names of the guardians for the surviving widow and the minor chldren with an indication of relationships and residences.
 * 8) Estaet inventory. Assets and liabilities.
 * 9) The probating authority with the naes of the winesses and/or the appraisors.
 * 10) Settlement of the estate - distribution to the heirs and creditors.
 * 11) If children of the deceased are dead, but left descendants, these heirs will be listed.

The following is a transliteration and a rough translation of a Skifteprotokoll. The source of the information can be found in "Skifteprotokoller af Nordfeldt Gods, Praesto Amt, Borre Sogn". [FHL film 0041317].

(1) ''Skifte-forrentning efter afg. huusmand Mads Christensen Schov i Sønder Westud''

Probate proceeding after deceased cottager Mads Christensen Schov of Sønder Westud

(2) ''sluttet den 23 Janr. 1778: Anno 1778 den 23de Janr blev foretaget lovlig''

concluded the 23 Jan 1778: Year 1778 the 23rd January was transacted a lawful (3)  skiftes holdelse af underskrevne Knud Lind forvalter ved Nordfeld i følge

probate proceeding by the undersigned Knud Lind administrator of Nordfeld as a result of

(4) den ved Møenbo Herrets ting skeedte tillysning efter huusmand afganne Mads

the, at the Møenbo District court occurred posting after cottager deceased Mads

(5)

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