Victorian Genealogy
Finding People and Places in Victoria, Australia.
Also see solicitors and barristers' records. See Barristers, Solicitors and Conveyancers.
If a person died leaving a will or property then a probate or administration file for the person may be created. A probate file is generated when a person leaves a will and a grant of probate is made to the executors named in the will by the Supreme Court of Victoria. An administration file is created when a person with property dies without leaving a will and a grant of administration is made to an administrator by the Supreme Court of Victoria.
If the person owned a property as a joint proprietor (for example with a spouse) this property will not appear in these records as the other joint proprietor/s will receive the deceased person's share of the property at their death. See Land Records.
If the person held property through adverse possession and had not yet claimed title, and it is not included in the probate or administration records then it may be seen in Rate Records by Region or Rate Records (A-Z).
If a person who died in Australia held assets in England or Wales as well as in Australia their will may be proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury from 1384 to 1858 or the Probate Registry from 1858 to the present.
ANCESTRY - ENGLAND AND WALES, PREROGATIVE COURT OF CANTERBURY WILLS 1384-1858
Prior to 12 January 1858, wills in England and Wales were proved in ecclesiastical courts. This indexed collection contains images of wills as they were copied into the registers of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC). The PCC, for the most part, handled probates from southern England and Wales, for individuals who owned property in both the Province of York and the Province of Canterbury, or those who died outside of England and Wales. Most of the wills in this collection will be for members of the middle and upper classes.
https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/5111/
FINDMYPAST - BRITAIN, PREROGATIVE COURT OF CANTERBURY WILLS INDEX 1750-1800
The Prerogative Court of Canterbury was a church court which fell under the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury. It was responsible for the probate of wills and the trials of testamentary causes where the value of the goods involved was more than five pounds and the property was held in two or more counties within Great Britain.
Wills could also be proven at York but Canterbury covered the south of England (including London) and Wales. The archive also includes a large number of individual wills for individuals who died overseas but who owned property in Britain.
ANCESTRY - ENGLAND AND WALES, NATIONAL PROBATE CALENDAR (INDEX OF WILLS AND ADMINISTRATIONS) 1858-1995
The records were created by the Probate Registry, which took control of proving wills and administrations in 1858. Before this, four different types of ecclesiastical (church) courts dealt with these cases. A Principal Probate Registry was established in London in January 1858, and several district probate registries were created around the country. From then on, the registries oversaw all grants of probate and letters of administration. This collection is the Calendar of these grants.
https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/1904/
INDMYPAST - ENGLAND AND WALES PROBATE CALENDARS 1858-1995 BROWSE
The England and Wales Probate Calendars was created by the Probate Service. In 1858, the responsibility for proving wills and granting letters of administration was passed to the Probate Registry by the Church of England. Probate was under the jurisdiction of the Church of England before 1858. At this time, a Principal Probate Registry was established in London and numerous district probate registries. Any estate can be administered in the Principal Probate Registry, regardless of its location.
FINDMYPAST - ENGLAND AND WALES GOVERNMENT PROBATE DEATH INDEX 1858-2019
The England and Wales Government Probate Death Index has been created from the death index created by the Probate Service. In 1858, the responsibility for proving wills and granting letters of administration was passed to the Probate Registry by the Church of England. Probate was under the jurisdiction of the Church of England before 1858. At this time, a Principal Probate Registry was established in London and numerous district probate registries. Any estate can be administered in the Principal Probate Registry, regardless of its location.
If a person who died in Australia held assets in Scotland as well as in Australia their will may be proved in the Scottish courts.
FINDMYPAST - SCOTLAND, WILL AND TESTAMENT INDEX 1481-1807
This is an index of records from the commissariat courts of Scotland from 1481 to 1807. The index includes the date of their last will and testament.
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-records/scotland-will-and-testament-index-1481-1807
ANCESTRY - SCOTLAND, NATIONAL PROBATE INDEX (CALENDAR OF CONFIRMATIONS AND INVENTORIES) 1876-1936
This collection includes an index and images to the annually published Calendar of Confirmations and Inventories filed in Scotland for the years 1876 to 1936. In Scotland, probate records are called confirmations and they include a testament and an inventory of the estate. The testament is the court record ordering distribution of the deceased’s estate. Some included wills (testament testamentar) and some did not (testament dative), the latter being more common. Not everyone filed testaments, as many chose to skirt the courts and just settle the moveable property within the family.
https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/60558/
If a person who died in Australia held assets in Ireland as well as in Australia their will may be proved in the Irish courts.
ANCESTRY - IRELAND, INDEXES TO WILLS, PROBATE ADMINISTRATION, MARRIAGE BONDS AND LICENCES 1591-1866
This collection includes indexes to wills, probate administration as well as marriage bonds and licences relating to individuals in Ireland for the years 1591 to 1866. Wills before 1858 were generally proved in church courts, of which there was a hierarchy extending from an individual parish upward. The archdeaconry courts would normally grant probate for persons with property in their area of jurisdiction. The bishop's court (or consistory court) would grant probate for any person having property in more than one archdeaconry within the diocese. The Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Armagh, latterly established at Henrietta Street, in Dublin, proved the wills of testators dying with assets of value greater than £5 ("bona notabilia") in at least two Irish dioceses. This court was also abolished by the Court of Probate Act 1857.
https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/62077/
FINDMYPAST - IRELAND DIOCESAN AND PREROGATIVE WILLS AND ADMINISTRATIONS INDEXES 1595-1858
Irish wills were proved before one of the ecclesiastical courts of the establishment Church of Ireland. These handwritten indexes and will books can give you your ancestor’s name and their occupation, and even details of what they left in their will and to whom.
ANCESTRY - IRELAND, WILLS AND GRANTS OF PROBATE, 1858-1900
This collection comprises records relating to wills and grants of probate in Ireland for the years 1858 to 1900. To ensure the legality of a will of a deceased person, a grant of probate must be made by the courts. As part of this process, the original will is lodged with the courts, however, if someone dies intestate, without having made a will, the courts can grant letters of administration for the disposal of the estate. After 1858, grants of probate and administration were made by the civil courts: the Principal and District Registries of the Probate Court before 1877 and of the High Court from 1877.
https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/62078/
FINDMYPAST - IRELAND CALENDARS OF WILLS AND ADMINISTRATIONS 1858-1965
These records cover the entire island of Ireland up to 1920, but only Northern Ireland up to 1965.
MUSEUMS OF HISTORY NEW SOUTH WALES, STATE ARCHIVES COLLECTION - PROBATE FILES 1817-1976
New South Wales probate files from 1817 to 1976 are indexed through the catalogue on the New South Wales State Archives website. Victorian probate records are included with those of New South Wales from 1836 to 1841.
https://mhnsw.au/guides/probate-packets-wills-guide/
There is also a Probate Records - Supplementary Index from 1790 to 1875 on the website.
https://mhnsw.au/indexes/probates-and-wills/probate-records-supplementary-index/
FINDMYPAST - NEW SOUTH WALES WILL BOOKS 1800-1952
These are books in which copies of wills have been transcribed. There are also summaries of administered estates. The name, occupation, place of residence, date of death, the name of the executor/s or administrator and the value of the estate are included. Victorian probate records are included with those of New South Wales from 1836 to 1841.
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/new-south-wales-will-books-1800-1952
MUSEUMS OF HISTORY NEW SOUTH WALES, STATE ARCHIVES COLLECTION - INTESTATE ESTATES INDEX 1821-1913
Victorian intestate estates case papers are included with those of New South Wales from 1836 to 1841.
https://mhnsw.au/indexes/intestates/intestate-estates-index/
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION FILES 1841-2020 (VPRS 28, 17379, 7591, 7592, 7933)
Probate and administration files from 1841 to 1925 and July to December 2020 can be viewed online at the Public Record Office Victoria website. They are indexed through the catalogue. Probate and administration files from 1926 to July 2020 are also indexed through the catalogue on the Public Record Office Victoria website. Death certificates are included in probate and administration files from 1995.
https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/wills-and-probates
FAMILYSEARCH - VICTORIA, PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION FILES, 1845-1926
Original records are at Public Record Office Victoria, North Melbourne, Victoria. These are searchable and images may be browsed.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2207846
FAMILYSEARCH - VICTORIA, WILLS 1853-1951 (VPRS 7591)
Original records are housed at Public Record Office Victoria, Melbourne, Australia. Images may be browsed.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1393344?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - VICTORIA, PROBATE FILES, 1925-1950 (VPRS 28)
Original records are at Public Record Office Victoria, North Melbourne, Victoria. Images may be browsed.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2361714?availability=Family%20History%20Library
FAMILYSEARCH - AUSTRALIA, VICTORIA, INDEX TO PROBATE REGISTERS, 1841-1989
These are digital images of originals housed at Public Records Office Victoria.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1393345
ANCESTRY - VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, WILLS AND PROBATE RECORDS, 1841-2009
The records include wills and probate records from 1841 to 2009. Wills and probate records created between 1841 and 1925 have been indexed and have digitized images available. Wills and probate records created between 1926 and 2009 have been indexed. The index heading “death place” should read “place of residence”.
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=61315
FINDMYPAST - VICTORIA WILLS AND PROBATE 1841-2009
The records include wills and probate records from 1841 to 2009. Wills and probate records created between 1841 and 1925 have been indexed and have digitized images available. Wills and probate records created between 1926 and 2009 have been indexed.
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/victoria-wills-and-probate
MYHERITAGE - AUSTRALIA, VICTORIA, WILL AND PROBATE INDEX 1850-2009
The collection consists of an index to probate registers for Victoria located in Melbourne, Australia. This is searchable.
SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA - APPLICATION, CAVEAT AND WILL INDEXES 1970-PRESENT
There are Application, Caveat and Will Indexes for grants of representation made after 1970. The application index includes the following information: type of application, date of death, date of grant and file numbers.
http://www.scvprobate.com.au/probate/
SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA - PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION FILES 2020-PRESENT
Probate and administration files from July 2020 to the present may be obtained from the Probate Office at the Supreme Court of Victoria.
https://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au/wills-and-probate
STATE TRUSTEES
Where there are no executors left alive or willing and able to act or where there is no next of kin willing or able to take on the role of administrator the State Trustees will administer the estate. The State Trustees also deals with the situation where a legal will has not sufficiently described beneficiaries for them to be located by the appointed executors. There are no records online.
https://www.statetrustees.com.au/
A file was created when a person died leaving a will and there was an application for probate but the process of applying for a grant was aborted and probate was not granted.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - NON-ISSUED PROBATE APPLICATIONS 1868-2009 (VPRS 7933)
These are not online.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - REGISTERS OF NON-ISSUED PROBATE APPLICATIONS, SELF-INDEXING 1868-2009 (VPRS 20233)
These are not online.
FAMILYSEARCH - NON-ISSUED PROBATE APPLICATIONS 1868-1937
Original records are at Public Record Office Victoria, North Melbourne, Australia. Images may be browsed.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2568893?availability=Family%20History%20Library
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA - NON-ISSUED PROBATE APPLICATION INDEX 1851-1952
This has been indexed in the Genealogical Index of Names (GIN) on the Genealogical Society of Victoria website.
https://www.gsv.org.au/article/our-collection
It is a legal requirement to advertise an applicant’s intention to apply for probate or administration. Prior to 2009 all probate and administration advertisements were published in the law notices section in metropolitan and regional newspapers. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals. They can also be seen in government gazettes. See Government Gazettes. From 2009 advertisements of an applicant's intention to apply for probate and administration must be published online.
SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA - PROBATE ONLINE ADVERTISING SYSTEM
All advertisements of an applicant's intention to apply for probate and administrationthat placed online in the last three years are searchable.
https://www.redcrest.com.au/probate/searchadvertisement.aspx
Victoria was defended using British military forces until 1870.
GOV.UK - FIND A WILL SOLDIERS' WILLS 1850-1986
The database is searchable and associated images may be seen on a pay-to-view basis.
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#soldiers
FINDMYPAST - BRITISH ARMED FORCES SOLDIERS' WILLS INDEX 1850-1986
The index is searchable.
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-records/british-armed-forces-soldiers-wills-1850-1986
ANCESTRY - UK, BRITISH ARMY AND NAVY BIRTH, MARRIAGE AND DEATH RECORDS, 1730-1960
The records were collected by the various armed services of the British forces. Many are from registers kept by the chaplains of the various services and include births, baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials. Also included in this collection are British Navy reports of deaths as well as British Officer births, wills and personal records. The records are searchable and may be browsed.
https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/60931/
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES (ENGLAND) - WILLS OF ROYAL NAVAL SEAMEN, 1786-1882
This database includes the wills of Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel. It is searchable and associated images may be seen on a pay-to-view basis.
ANCESTRY - WEB: UK, WILLS OF ROYAL NAVAL SEAMEN INDEX, 1786-1882
The index is searchable.
https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/60377/
If armed forces personnel died leaving a will or property then a probate or administration file for the person may be created; these can be seen in the Victorian probate and administration records. Wills and inventories of effects may also be seen in their military service records. See Military Service Records.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA - WILLS OF DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY FORCES-WORLD WAR 1 (MT297/14)
These are indexed into the catalogue.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA - WILLS OF DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY FORCES-WORLD WAR 2 (MT441/4)
These are indexed into the catalogue.
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