(This page's most recent update is November 2024)
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Probate records and wills are available online from all over the U.S. and are what I consider another hidden gem of information that can assist you in advancing your family history and genealogy research.
What can you find in these records? How about the date of death, spouse’s and children’s names, birth order, siblings and siblings’ spouses, parent’s names, and residence locations for all named persons? Also, ownership of land and/or other significant property, business names and occupation, military service, guardianships, and adoptions. Basically, anything owned by the deceased is typically listed and to whom it is to be assigned.
I won’t pretend to be an expert on the probate process – all I know is that I have discovered an amazing amount of good information from probate records and wills as part of my personal genealogy research.
Here are a few good primers on the benefits of searching probate documents and wills:
- FamilySearch – United States Probate Records
- Wills and Probate Records are Genealogy Riches
- How to Use Wills and Estate Records to Learn About Your Ancestors
- Probate Records Could Be the Key to Unlocking Your Family’s Hidden Past
Below, listed are links to probate records, wills, and indexes available for free online for the state.
Note: Please be aware that if you find a desired will or probate record in an index, the holder of the actual materials (e.g., (archive, county court, etc.) may charge a small fee to send you a copy of the material itself.
Note: Some links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Idaho Probate and Wills
- Ada County Deeds, 1865-1911; Index, 1864-1902
- Ada County Guardianship Records, 1892-1932
- Ada County Orders and Decrees, 1899-1908
- Ada County Probate Letters, 1899-1932; Estate Records, 1867-1886; Minutes, 1873- 1927
- Ada County Wills, 1869-1973; Indexes, 1869-1973
- Adams County Wills, 1889-1936; Notice of Actions, 1886-1911
- Bannock County Civil Cases, ca. 1892-1920
- Bannock County Probate and Guardian Papers, 1893-1971: folder Series No. 1, Files 1-784, in Numerical Order
- Bannock County Wills, 1888-1955
- Bannock County, Index to Estates and Guardianships, 1893-1977
- Bear Lake County Probate Records, 1895-1921; Probate Docket, 1875-1889
- Bear Lake County, Probate Records
- Benewah County Inventory and Appraisement Records, 1915-1927
- Benewah County Journal, 1915-1928; General Index, ca. 1915-1928
- Benewah County Judgments, 1911-1930; General Index, 1911-1930
- Benewah County Letters of Administration Testamentary and Wills, 1915-1943; Bond of Executors and Administrators, 1915-1955
- Benewah County Mothers’ Pension Records, 1915-1935
- Benewah County Register of Estates, 1925-1946
- Bingham County General Index to Civil Cases
- Bingham County General Index to Estates, 1907-1943
- Bingham County Probate Court Records, 1885-1932
- Bingham County Widows and Orphan Records, 1913-1927
- Bingham County, Index to Estate Index, 1906-1946
- Bingham County, Probate Case Files, 1884-1920
- Bingham County, Probate Index, 1926-1945
- Bingham County, Widows and Orphans, 1905-1989
- Blaine County Bonds and Letters of Administration, 1883-1928
- Blaine County Index to Estates and Guardianship, 1864-1944
- Blaine County Mother’s Pension Record, 1913-1932
- Blaine County Wills, 1883-1962
- Boise County Miscellaneous Records, 1863-1939
- Bonner County Civil Actions, 1904-1928; Register, 1911-1912; Index, 1904-1911
- Bonner County Miscellaneous Court Records, 1905-1933
- Bonner County Probate Journal, 1891-1929; Docket Index, 1890-1900; Journal Index, 1911-1933
- Bonneville County Probate Docket, 1911-1932
- Bonneville County Wills, 1888-1914
- Boundary County Administrators Journal, 1915-1933
- Boundary County Bond Records, 1907-1947
- Boundary County Decree of Settlement and Distribution, 1910-1948
- Boundary County Estates, 1907-1946
- Boundary County Guardianship, 1911-1946
- Boundary County Inventory and Appraisement, 1907-1934
- Boundary County Journal, 1892-1933; Index, 1892-1933
- Boundary County Letters of Administration Testamentary and Will, 1907-1930
- Boundary County Power of Attorney, 1883-1936
- Butte County Records, 1882-1970
- Butte County Early Probate Records
- Butte County Orders and Decrees, V. 1, 1918-1930
- Butte County Probate Docket, V. 1, 1886-1955
- Butte County, Probate Records, 1886-1961
- Camas County Wills, 1897-1984
- Canyon County Probate Records, 1885-1930; Index, 1895-1957
- Canyon County Wills, 1893-1939; Index, 1900-1936
- Caribou County Mothers’ Pensions Packets
- Caribou County Probate Records, 1898-1926
- Cassia County Records, 1879-1989
- Cassia County Miscellaneous Records, 1879-1930; General Index, 1915-1930
- Cassia County, Estate Case Files, 1880-1990
- Cassia County, Mother’s Pension Records, 1919-1935
- Cassia County, Probate Court Record Book, 1879-1884
- Cassia County, Probate Records, 1879-1990
- Cassia County, Will Records, 1891-1956
- Clark County Records, 1884-1998
- Clark County, Estate Case Files, 1903-1950
- Clark County, Mothers Pension, 1918-1932
- Clark County, Probate Letters of Testamentary, 1901-1961
- Clark County, Probate Orders and Decrees, 1927-1963
- Clark County, Wills, 1909-1963
- Clark County, Orders and Decrees, 1915-1937
- Clark County, Probate Register, 1913-1986
- Clark County, Wills, 1909-1963
- Clearwater County Estates, 1911-1933; Inventories and Accounts, 1910-1931; Index to Orders Affecting Real Estate, 1911-1986
- Clearwater County Mothers Pension Records, 1911-1936
- Clearwater County Probate Records, 1911-1935; Index, 1911-1923
- Custer County Deeds, 1872-1913; Index, 1873-1908
- Custer County Judgments, 1881-1968; Index, 1881-1968
- Custer County Probate Records, 1889-1934; Index, 1889-1958
- Custer County Wills, 1879-1944; Index, 1879-1944
- Elmore County Records, 1889-1972
- Elmore County Wills, 1892-1936
- Elmore County, Probate Records
- Franklin County, Mothers’ Pension Records, 1914-1930
- Franklin County, Probate Records, 1910-1924
- Fremont County Probate Proceedings, 1893-1907
- Fremont County Will Records, 1889-1961
- Fremont County, Probate Records, 1894-1938
- Gem County Records, 1877-1962
- Gem County Probate Records, 1896-1948; Index, 1896-1948
- Gem County, Probate Court Records, 1916-1942
- Gooding County Records, 1879-1962
- Gooding County, Probate Records, 1899-1955
- Idaho County Probate Records, 1865-1928; Index, 1899-1912
- Idaho County Wills, 1901-1967; Index, 1822
- Idaho Genealogical Records
- Idaho, Will Books and Testators Records Index, by County
- Jefferson County, Decrees of Distribution, 1920-1941
- Jefferson County, Probate Register, 1914-1940
- Jefferson County, Wills, 1901-1961
- Jerome County Estates, 1918-1941; Letters of Testamentary, 1919-1927; Index to Probate Records
- Kootenai County Guardianship Records, 1899-1928
- Kootenai County Inheritance Tax Records, 1908-1911
- Kootenai County Mothers’ Pension Records, 1913-1935
- Kootenai County Probate Records, 1885-1938
- Kootenai County Probate Records, 1887-1943
- Kootenai County Probate Records, 1887-1948
- Latah County Inventories, Accounts, and Appraisements, 1888-1928; Index, 1903-1918
- Latah County Mothers’ Pension Records, 1913-1928
- Latah County Orders Affecting Real Estate, 1881-1933; Index, 1888-1986
- Latah County Probate Records, 1888-1927; Index, 1888-1927
- Latah County Wills, 1888-1968; Index, 1888-1986
- Lemhi County Records, 1868-1964
- Lemhi County Bonds, 1880-1931
- Lemhi County Estate Records, 1884-1932
- Lemhi County Inheritance Tax Records, 1907-1912
- Lemhi County Judgment Records, 1881-1931
- Lemhi County Mothers Pension Records, 1913-1932
- Lemhi County Probate Records, 1881-1931
- Lemhi County Wills, 1884-1900; Index, 1894-1986
- Lemhi County, Estate Case Files, 1869-1981
- Lewis County Administrators and Executors Bond, 1911-1946
- Lewis County Dependent Child Record, 1919-1963
- Lewis County Estate Records, 1911-1940
- Lewis County Probate Records, 1911-1946
- Lincoln County Records, 1886-1972
- Lincoln County Probate Books, 1897-1929; Bonds, 1895-1933; Guardians, 1899-1932; Index, 1895-1933
- Lincoln County Wills, 1889-1933; Index, 1889-1915
- Lincoln County, Probate Case Files, 1894-1959
- Lincoln County, Probate Records, 1883-1972
- Lincoln County, Execution Book, 1883-1915
- Logan County Probate Register, 1889-1892; Minute Book, 1889-1927; Court Records, 1883-1889; Docket, 1924-1949; Inventory, 1918-1943
- Madison County Records
- Madison County, Pensions, 1932
- Madison County, Probate Records, 1895-1963
- Minidoka County Records, 1913-1961
- Minidoka County, Probate Records, 1913-1961
- Minidoka County, Fee Book, 1913-1929
- Minidoka County, Guardianship Records, 1913-1954
- Minidoka County, Inventory and Appraisement, 1912-1925
- Minidoka County, Letters of Administration, 1920-1923
- Minidoka County, Probate Bonds, 1913-1949
- Minidoka County, Probate Minutes, 1913-1931
- Minidoka County, Wills, 1911-1957
- Nez Perce County Wills, 1877-1931; Index, 1877-1970
- Nez Perce County Court Records, 1864-1927
- Nez Perce County Guardians’ Bonds and Letters, 1891-1921
- Nez Perce County Inheritance Tax, 1907-1913
- Nez Perce County Inventory Accounts, 1887-1929; Inventories, 1887-1906; Receipts & disbursements, 1906-1920
- Nez Perce County Judgment Records, 1901-1905
- Nez Perce County Mothers’ Pension Records, 1915-1935
- Nez Perce County Orders and Decrees, 1891-1917
- Nez Perce County Register of Applicants and Deeds for the Town of Howard, 1898-1900
- Nez Perce County Register of Applicants and Deeds for the Town of Melrose, 1898-1905
- Oneida County, Estates in Probate 1882-1955
- Oneida County, Probate Records, 1800-1955
- Oneida County, Probate Records, 1871-1952; Inventories, 1882-1943; Index, 1882-1985; Wills, 1879-1950
- Owyhee County Probate Records, 1864-1926; General Index, 1864-1926; Old Age Pensions, 1931-1935
- Owyhee County Wills, 1882-1919
- Power County Miscellaneous Records, 1913-1936; Index, 1913-1986
- Power County, Index to Estate Records, 1913-1955
- Shoshone County Mother’s Pension Records, 1916-1931
- Shoshone County Probate Records, 1885-1928
- Shoshone County Wills, 1871-1885
- Teton County Inventory and Appraisements, 1903-1953
- Teton County Probate Order and Decrees, 1900-1923
- Teton County Wills, 1903-1967
- Twin Falls County Records, 1906-1988
- Twin Falls County Register of Estates, 1907-1928
- Twin Falls County, Estates Index, 1907-1980
- Valley County Inventory and Appraisement, 1917-1947
- Valley County Letters of Administration and Oaths, ca. 1917-1936
- Valley County Mothers’ Pension Records, 1917-1972
- Valley County Probate Minutes, 1917-1936
- Valley County Probate Records of Town sites
- Valley County Register of Action, 1917-1934
- Washington County Miscellaneous Records, 1892-1931; Index, 1883-1968
- Washington County Wills, 1878-1946
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!