(This page's most recent update is
July 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, sibling’s and siblings’ spouses, parents’ 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 of the 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.
Maine Probate and Wills
- Androscoggin County Administrators, Executors and Guardians Records, 1854-1979
- Androscoggin County Probate of Wills, V. 1-2, 1854-1892
- Androscoggin County Probate Records, 1854-1919
- Androscoggin County, Probate Estate Files, 1854-1918
- Androscoggin County, Probate Docket Records 1854-1918
- Aroostook County Probate Records, 1839-1895
- Aroostook County, Probate Records, 1837-2007
- Aroostook County, Probate Records, 1837-2007
- Cumberland County Index of Probate Files, 1850-1899
- Cumberland County Probate Docket Books, 1908-1916; Probate Index, 1908-1923
- Cumberland County, Probate Records, 1908-2006
- Franklin County Probate Records (Estate Files) 1838-1915, and Index 1838-1928
- Franklin County, Claim Dockets, 1901-1907
- Hancock County Probate Records, 1791-1899; Index 1791-1909
- Hancock County, Index to Administration, 1790-1909
- Hancock County, Index to Wills, 1790-1909
- Hancock County, Probate Court Docket Index, 1790-1909
- Hancock County, Probate Records, Estate Files, 1790-1915
- Kennebec County Probate Estate Files, 1779-1915
- Kennebec County Probate Index, 1799-1850
- Kennebec County Probate Records, 1799-ca. 1930
- Kennebec County, Probate Estate Files, 1779-1915
- Knox County Probate Records, 1861-1979; Index to Probate Records, 1860-1928
- Knox County, Estate Files, 1861-1915
- Knox County, Estate Files, 1903-1908
- Knox County, Probate Estate Files, 1861-1915
- Lincoln County Will Abstracts
- Lincoln County Probate Records
- Lincoln County Probate Records, 1760-1957
- Lincoln County, Probate Records 1760 to 1800
- Lincoln County, Probate Records, 1760 to 1800
- Lincoln County, Probate Records, 1861-1915
- Maine Wills, 1640-1760
- Maine Wills: 1640-1760
- Maine, County Probate Records, 1760-1979
- Norridgewock, Probate Records
- Oxford County, Guardianship and Adoption Records 1810-1919
- Oxford County, Probate Dockets, 1820-1867
- Oxford County, Probate Estate Files, 1805-1915
- Oxford County, Probate of Wills and Letters Testamentary, 1836-1865
- Oxford County, Probate Records — Will Books 1877-1916
- Oxford County, Probate Records 1805-1872 and Indexes pre 1820
- Oxford County, Probate Records 1810-1885
- Oxford County, Index to Probate Records previous to the Year 1900
- Oxford County, Probate Estate Records pre 1820-1915 and Indexes 1820-1980
- Penobscot County Probate Records 1816-1893; Index 1816-1866
- Penobscot County, Probate Records, 1816-1953
- Piscataquis County Probate Records 1838-1884
- Piscataquis County Record of Wills, 1856-1879; Old Records, V. X, 1838-1867
- Piscataquis County, Deed Books, 1838-1902
- Piscataquis County, Probate Records, 1838-2005
- Sagadahoc County Probate Records, 1854-2007
- Sagadahoc County Probate Records 1854-1901; Docket 1854-1876
- Skowhegan, Probate Records
- Somerset County, Card Catalog of Probate Records, 1809-2005
- Somerset County, Probate Estate Files, 1809-1915
- Somerset County, Probate Records 1810-1916
- Waldo County Probate Records and Indexes 1826-1892
- Waldo County, Probate Records, 1825-1915
- Washington County Courthouse Records, 1785-1950
- Washington County Probate Records 1785-1893
- Washington County Probate Records 1826-1839
- Washington County Will Abstracts, V. W-1, 1888-1906
- Washington County, Probate Records, 1791-1953
- York County Estate Files, ca. 1690-1917
- York County Probate Bonds, 1843-1868
- York County Probate Records, 1687-1938; Index to Probate Records, 1687-1900
- York County, Probate Estate Files, 1690-1917
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!