Probate records can be a gold mine for genealogical research! They often contain wills, estate inventories, guardianship records, and other legal proceedings related to a deceased person’s assets. What types of information can be uncovered? Names and relationships, residences and property details, occupations, financial status, community connections, and countless more valuable genealogical clues!

At our August 6 monthly meeting, Ed Strickland will be with us to present More than a Will: Using Probate Records. The bulk of the work of a probate court is the settlement of an estate. After examining the three record formats used by the court, we will look at the types of documents generated and the clues they provide. We will then turn to other matters which may be handled by the court, such as guardianships and minor trusts, mental competence, adoptions, separations, divorces, and insolvent estates.