Faroe Islands Probate Records

Probate Records [Skiftibøkur]
Probate records are created at the death of an individual to distribute their estates among heirs and creditors. These records list heirs, creditors, and property of a deceased individual. Historically, it was not common for an individual to leave a will, so most people's estates were probated at their death. According to Danish law, if the deceased did not have sufficient possessions to defray the expenses involved with a probate not was held, even if their were minor heirs.

Probates provide information on deaths, establish family relationships, and linkage of generations which sometimes cannot be accomplished with church books alone. They also provide information about the social status of the deceased. Records list entire family units and establish relationships. Probates are used to complement information contained in the church records, fill gaps where church records have been lost. The earliest probates available begin in 1679.

These records contain the name of deceased and last place of residence; sometimes date of death; enumeration of legal heirs with residence, and relationship to the deceased; name of spouse; names and ages of children; name of guardian for minor children; places of residence; inventory, and distribution of property. These records identify whole family units and in some instances provide information about in-laws and their families, as well as other family members. Records are indexed.

Records are housed at the Faeroe Islands National Archives [Føroya Landsskjalasavn] in Tórshavn.