Cyprus Probate Records

Europe Cyprus

Shari’a Court Records
Research use: Records provide information identifying individuals and help to establish family relationships for time periods in which there are few linkage records. These records are of particular value to ensure adequate coverage of the population in areas where church registers, civil registration, and population registers are not available or incomplete.

Record type: Records of inheritance, guardianship, administration of estates, etc. The Shari’a (Islamic law) courts adjudicated matters of inheritance, guardianship, administration of estates, etc. The courts handled matters for non-Muslims as well.

Time period: 1571 to present.

Contents: Administration of estates, award of guardianship, inheritance, etc. Names of persons with vital information; names of family members and/or other relatives.

Location: The Cyprus Turkish National Archive and Research Center, Girne (Kyrenia) in Northern Cyprus and the Ev kaf Dairesi in Leukosia. Some may also be in various archives in Turkey.

Population coverage: 30%.