Portugal, Aveiro Testament Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

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Whenever possible, FamilySearch makes images available for all users. However, ultimate rights to view images on our website are granted by the record custodians. The Portugal, Aveiro, Testaments collection is available to the Family History Library, FamilySearch Centers, and to members of the supporting organization, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The images can be viewed at a FamilySearch Center near you.

Title in the Language of the Records
Testamentos de Aveiro, Portugal

Record Description
This collection of testaments (notary public wills) includes the years 1900 to 1936.

These records are from collection of testaments created in the presence of notaries and housed at the Aveiro District Archive (Archivo Distrital de Aveiro). Testaments were handwritten in Portuguese and in narrative style of 2 or more pages.

A testament is a document that sets forth a person's wishes for the disposition of their property after death. Testaments (wills) in Portugal are written and kept by a notary public. A person wanting to leave a will after death goes to a notary public anywhere in Portugal and, after presenting legal identification, can start composing his will with the help of the notary public. The notary agency keeps the original document and a copy is given to the testator. The testator may also register a will in the Conservatória dos Registros Centrais (Central Conservatory of Records) in Lisbon. This entity keeps an index of registered wills and the place where it was written and kept.

Generally, people that have any assets, fortune, or property want to divide the fortune among family members, make donations to institutions, etc. in writing.

The genealogical data entered in a will is that of the testator, the dividing of goods, and the heirs. The information written by the notary public depends on the knowledge of the testator. This information may be correct as it may have some errors if the person was relying on memory.

Record Content
Testaments (wills) may include the following information:


 * Name of testator
 * Age or date of birth
 * Place of residence and sometimes place of origin
 * Date and place where will was filed
 * Spouse’s name and age or birth date
 * Names of heirs and their ages or birth date and place of residence
 * Names of witnesses

Searching the Collection
To browse the collection by image: ⇒ Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒ Select the "District" category ⇒ Select the "Municipality" category ⇒ Select the "Notary and Years of service" category ⇒ Select the "Volume number and Years" category which takes you to the images.

Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

When searching: As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor’s given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence and age, and family relationships. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.

About the Records
Testaments were created in chronological order in a book kept by the notary public. If you have an approximate date of death of your ancestor, you may search the wills by date. Information in wills can help to find out the type of life or type of individual the ancestor was, can also give information not found in other records.

For Help Reading These Records
These records are in Portuguese. For help reading the records, see the following resources:


 * Portuguese Genealogical Word List
 * Portuguese Letter-writing Guide
 * Learning Center Resources:
 * Portuguese Handwriting Lesson 1
 * Portuguese Handwriting Lesson 2
 * Portuguese Handwriting Lesson 3

Related Websites

 * Aveiro Maps
 * Aveiro History

Related Wiki Articles

 * Portugal
 * Aveiro

Citations for This Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information (often called citing your sources). This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually.

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