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Probate order books contain a variety of information about an estate, including responses to petitions, motions, pleas, and other types of actions. |
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In the case above, the local heirs of William West want to settle his estate, but another group of heirs who must be part of the settlement live out-of-state. |
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The court here rules that the petitioners must publish a notice, for four weeks successively, telling the other heirs of the upcoming hearing. If the out-of-state heirs do not appear for the next hearing, the court will find in favor of the petitioners. |
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Note the long list of heirs of William West, as well as the heirs of other relatives, named in the petition. The order book index should be checked to find the next entry which should reflect the final outcome of the petition. |
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Probate order books have been created by the local civil court, sometimes called the county court, probate court, orphan's court, circuit court, or chancery court. |
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Most probate records have remained in the custody of the civil court in which they were created and can be obtained from the court clerk. |
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Genealogists have abstracted and indexed probate records for many locations. Copies of those publications and thousands of microfilmed order books can be found at the LDS Family History Library, its local Family History Centers, and in the genealogy collections of private, local, state, and university libraries throughout the country. |
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Always check probate records to see if an
ancestor, or anyone who might have been
related to the ancestor, left property that had to
be disposed of by law.
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