The Victoria Wills and Probate collection on Findmypast is a vast index that now contains over 1,364,000 records.
These list the names of deceased persons whose estates passed probate through the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne between 1841 and 1989.
Wills and probate records are invaluable in family research, as these kind of documents can provide details of next of kin, property owned and significant dates. Each record includes a transcript and a number also include image of original probate documents. Transcripts will reveal your ancestor’s death date,
occupation, residence, the date of the grant, the nature of the grant, and to whom it was committed. They also include the file number and a link to order a copy of the original from Public Records Office Victoria.
Images may provide the last will and testament of your ancestor and an inventory of your ancestor’s estate (which may include an itemised list of assets and liabilities). These would provide not only insight into your ancestor’s economic standing, but also into your ancestor’s relationships with other family members, friends and institutions. If you have a family heirloom, inventories can provide details of its acquisition and worth.
If you’re eager to get searching, here’s the direct link to the Victoria Wills and Probate collection.
