South Africa, Orange Free State, Estate Files - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection of estate files from Orange Free State, South Africa includes the period from 1951 to 2006. Each estate file contains several documents; some files are extensive as others are smaller in size. These files may include death notices, death certificates, other vital records, wills, liquidation and distribution accounts, duty accounts, inventory of goods, acceptances of trust as executor, letters of administration, notary public documents, pension documents, bank and stocks documents, valuation of properties, other assets, etc.

The estate files are arranged in chronological order and by the first letter of the surname. Groups of documents often span many years beyond the year of death of the deceased. The death notice is the most important piece of genealogical information in these files; it typically contains the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, birth place, age at death, nationality, parents, occupation, residence, marital status, spouse(s), children, if the deceased left any goods and a will. Cause of death is found only on the brief death certificate.

Estate files, created at the Master of the Supreme Court in Orange Free State, South Africa commenced in the year 1951. Not all deceased persons have estate files. Estate files are not opened for those who owned little or no assets, therefore these records cover only a certain percentage of the population. Estate file prior to 1951 may be found in the relevant Archives Repositories.

The purpose of the estate files at the Master’s Office is to administer the liquidation and distribution of the estates of deceased persons, administer trust property given under the control of any person by a deceased person, administer the property of minors and persons under curatorship, administer derelict estates, regulate the rights of beneficiaries under mutual wills made by any two or more persons. The Master’s Office keeps records for every estate within the jurisdiction of the Office, and documents are available for inspection and certified copies may be made for documents.

The documents inside the estate files give a lot information about the deceased including personal details, those of his/her spouse(s), children and other beneficiaries. Addresses often also give clues to the researcher about where to find relatives of the deceased. It is suggested to look at all the documents in the file, not simply the death notice and will.

Reading These Records
These records are in Dutch. For help reading them see:
 * Netherlands Language and Languages
 * Netherlands - Dutch Genealogical Resources on the Internet (National Institute)

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

Death
 * Name of deceased
 * Age of deceased in months and years
 * Birthplace and nationality
 * Date and place of death
 * Names of parents
 * Occupation and residence of deceased
 * Marital status and date of last marriage
 * Name of surviving spouse
 * Names of children of deceased

Wills
 * Full name of deceased
 * Name of spouse
 * Names of heirs and family members
 * Date and place of will
 * Names of witnesses

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of ancestor
 * Place of residence
 * Approximate year and place of death

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?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

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

 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Try searching by surname only
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in South Africa.
 * South Africa Record Finder
 * South Africa Finding Town of Origin

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.

África do Sul, Estado Livre de Orange, Arquivos do Estado (Registros Históricos do FamilySearch)