FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Pennsylvania/Tasks-Probate FHLC

WikiProject Pennsylvania Progress Chart  Pennsylvania Wiki Project Task - Probate FS Catalog

Description
The purpose of this task is to add microfilm copies of original probate records found in the FS Catalog to the county pages.

Instructions
1. To locate probate records in the FS Catalog, do a place name search in the FS Catalog by typing in your county. If you need more instructions on how to search the FS Catalog, go to FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search.

2. Once you have the correct county, look under the topic of Probate Records. Review the entries for any original probate records (wills, administrations, estate files, will dockets - wills and administrations are sometimes labeled "Probate Records" in the FS Catalog). Do not put in book indexes or abstracts.

3. After "Online Probate Records" and before the PA Probate FS Catalog and WorldCat Template, add the following:

Original Probate Records on Microfilm

4. From the FS Catalog, add each original record under the new heading you created in #3. This may include wills, will dockets, administrations, and estate files (wills and administrations are sometimes labeled "Probate Records" in the FS Catalog). If you find other original probate records that you feel may be helpful, you may add them, but it is not necessary. Please remember the following:


 * i. Bullet each entry you make.
 * ii. Put the dates the records cover at the beginning of the entry after the bullet. Then list the title of the collection.
 * iii. The date should be bolded.
 * iv. You can put the index at the end of the entry (see example).
 * v. Put the sources in chronological order.
 * vi. Use the FS Catalog template to list the film number.

Examples:


 * :*1752–1860 Wills - Index included: 1752-1915
 * :*1752-1851 Administration Letters and Bonds - Index included: 1752 - 1915
 * :*1752-1915 Estate Files - Arranged alphabetically by surname

Probate Records
Original Probate Records on Microfilm


 * 1752–1860 Wills - Index included: 1752-1915
 * 1752-1851 Administration Letters and Bonds - Index included: 1752 - 1915
 * 1752-1915 Estate Files - Arranged alphabetically by surname

Example of Completed Probate Records Heading
Probate matters in Berks County, Pennsylvania are handled by the Orphans' Court. To obtain original probate records, contact the Orphan's Court in the County Courthouse.

In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates of decedents, incompetents, and minors; appointment and control of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills involving probate matters; inheritance tax appeals and various petitions and motions.

Online Probate Indexes


 * 1626-1836 - New York Wills, 1626-1836 on Ancestry. Taken from Fernow, Berthold, comp. and ed. "Calendar of Wills." New York, NY, USA: 1896. - ($).
 * 1878-1939 - Will Index, Lackawanna County, located on PAGenWeb - also includes deceased's death date

Online Probate Records

Original probate records for some Pennsylvania counties are available free online as digital images at FamilySearch. The dates vary significantly for each county and not all counties are listed. Some counties may only have probate indexes. This Pennsylvania collection of images may be browsed through the links listed below:

Complete Collection:


 * 1683-1994 – at FamilySearch

Berks County Only:


 * 1752–1915 – Berks County Probate Records

Original Probate Records on Microfilm


 * 1752–1860 – Wills - Index included: 1752-1915
 * 1752-1851 – Administration Letters and Bonds - Index included: 1752 - 1915
 * 1752-1915 – Estate Files - Arranged alphabetically by surname

Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts

Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Berks County Pennsylvania probate wills in online catalogs like:


 * Historical Society of Pennsylvania
 * WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
 * (For instructions see FS Catalog Place-name Search).