(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.. They 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. 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.
New Hampshire Probate and Wills
- Belknap County Probate Records, 1841-1973; Indexes to Probate Records, 1841-1925
- Carroll County Probate Papers, 1840-1936; Index to Probate Papers, 1840-1990
- Carroll County Probate Records, 1840-1870
- Carroll County Unfiled Probate Papers, 1840-1936
- Cheshire County Administrations, 1823-1869
- Cheshire County Dowers Claims, Settlement of Estates of Widows, 1814-1886
- Cheshire County Guardianship Papers, 1824-1853
- Cheshire County Probate Estate Files, 1769-1885
- Cheshire County Wills, 1799-1869
- Cheshire County Wills, Inventories, Claims, Accounts 1771-1815
- Cheshire County, Index to Probate Records 1769-1800
- Cheshire County, Index to Probate Records, 1769-1800
- Cheshire County, Probate Records, Probate Estate Files, 1886-1959
- Cheshire County, Probate Records: Probate Estate Files, 1886-1959
- Coos County Probate Packets, 1885-1931; Probate Index, 1885-1992
- Early New Hampshire Probates Index, V.01-04
- Grafton County Probate Records, 1773-1933; Indexes to Probate Records, 1773-1950
- Grafton County, Index to Probate Records 1769-1800
- Grafton County, Index to Probate Records, 1769-1800
- Grafton County, Probate Estate Files, 1773-1950
- Hampton, Probate Records 1649-1770
- Hillsboro County, Index to Probate Records, 1769-1800
- Hillsborough County Probate Records, 1771-1921; Indexes to Probate Records, 1771-1859, 1885-1961
- Hillsborough County, Probate Court Records: Petition of Change of Name, and Decree, 1878-1933
- Hillsborough County, Probate Records, 1771-1933
- Hillsborough County, Probate Records, 1899-1930
- Merrimack County Probate Records, 1823-1972; Probate Indexes, 1823-1973
- New Hampshire Naturalization and Probate Records, 1643-1948
- New Hampshire Province, Probate Records 1635-1771
- New Hampshire, County Probate Estate Files, 1769-1936
- New Hampshire, County Probate Records, 1660-1973
- New Hampshire, Provincial and State Papers
- New Hampshire, Probate Records of the Province
- Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire (1635-1717)
- Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire (1718-1740)
- Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire (1741-1749)
- Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire (1750-1753)
- Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire (1754-1756)
- Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire (1757-1760)
- Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire (1760-1763)
- Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire (1764-1767)
- Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire (1767-1771)
- Rockingham County Court Dockets, 1786-1902
- Rockingham County Court Minutes, 1772-1773, 1808-1827
- Rockingham County Deeds, 1770-1852; Indexes to Deeds, 1643-1882
- Rockingham County Estate Papers, Old Series, 1771-1869
- Rockingham County Insolvency Records, 1891-1898, 1907, 1931-1948
- Rockingham County Wills Filed not Probated, 1847-1971; Index to Wills Filed, 1847-1945
- Rockingham County, Account Books, March 1893 to Sept. 1895
- Rockingham County, Probate Records, Probate Case Files and Record Books, 1643-1918
- Rockingham County, Mixed Records, 1771-1773
- Rockingham County, Probate Records 1753-1800
- Rockingham County, Probate Records, 1771-1969
- Rockingham, Cheshire, Strafford, Grafton, Hillsboro Counties, Index to Probate Records
- Strafford County Probate Records, 1773-1946; Probate Indexes, 1773-1989
- Strafford County, Index to Probate Records, 1769-1800
- Strafford County, Probate Abstracts, 1773-1806; Wills, Estate Divisions, dower Divisions, Guardianships
- Strafford County, Property Transfer Index,1933-1989
- Sullivan County Probate Records, 1827-1902; General Index, 1827-1874
- Sullivan County Probate, Wills and Indexes 1852-1947
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!