The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(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.
Vermont Probate and Wills
- Addison County and District Probate Files, 1845-1915
- Addison County Probate Records, 1824-1916
- Addison County, New Haven District, Probate Records, 1826-1915
- Addison District General Alphabetical Card Index to Case Files, 1852-January 11, 1959
- Addison District Probate Files, 1845-1915
- Bennington County, Manchester District Estate Files, 1779-1935
- Bennington District General Alphabetical Card Index to Estate Files, 1778 circa thru 1915
- Bennington District Probate Records Index, 1770-2005, 1778-1915
- Bennington District Probate Records, 1776-1922
- Benson, Land Records, 1850-1898
- Caledonia District Alphabetical Card Index to Probate Files, 1797-1973
- Caledonia District Guardian Records, 1839-1881
- Caledonia District Probate Records 1796-1924
- Chittenden District General Alphabetical Card Index to Estate Files, 1796-1959
- Chittenden District General Alphabetical Card Index to Guardianships, 1811-1959
- Chittenden District Guardians Records, V. 1-3, 1818-1854
- Chittenden District Probate Estate Files, 1796-1910
- Chittenden District Probate Records, 1795-1857
- Essex County, Probate Estate Files, 1791-1919
- Fair Haven District General Alphabetical Cards Index to Records (excluding Adoptions, Change of Name), A-Z, 1797-November 1959
- Fair Haven District Probate Records 1804-1813, 1842-1919
- Franklin County, Probate Case Files, 1796-1921
- Franklin County, Probate Records, 1796-1921
- Franklin District General Alphabetical Card Index to Records, ca. 1780-1970
- Franklin District Probate Records: Probate Record Books, Wills, Administrations, Guardianships, 1777-1953
- Grand Isle County, Probate Records, 1797-1915
- Hartford District General Alphabetical Card Index to Case Files, 1783-1970
- Lamoille District General Alphabetical Card Index to Case Files, 1860 circa to January [1960]
- Lamoille District Wills and Letters Testamentary, 1837-1878
- Manchester District Estate Files, 1779-1935
- Manchester District General Alphabetical Card Index to Records (excluding Adoptions and Changes of Names), 1790-1960
- Manchester District Probate Records 1779-1914
- Marlboro District Guardian Records, V. 1-2, 1821-1849
- Marlboro District Old General Alphabetical Index to Case Files, 1781-1964
- Marlboro District Probate Records, 1781-1918; with General Index
- New Haven District General Alphabetical Card Index to Case Files, ca. 1824-1959
- New Haven District Probate Records, 1826-1915
- Orange County, Bradford District Estate Files, 1780-1915
- Orange County, Bradford District Estate Files, 1780-1915
- Orange County, Randolph District Probate Records, 1790-1935
- Orange County, Randolph District Probate Records, 1790-1935
- Orleans District General Alphabetical Card Index to Records, ca. 1780-1970
- Randolph District General Alphabetical Card Index to Case Files, 1797-1967
- Rutland County, Probate Index Cards for Birth Corrections
- Rutland County, Probate Index Cards for Emanipations or Change of Names
- Rutland County, Probate Index Cards for Marriage Certificates
- Rutland District General Alphabetical Card Index to Records 1781-1960
- Rutland District Probate Index Cards for Persons presumed Dead
- Rutland District Probate Index Cards for Trusts
- Rutland District Probate Records 1784-1911
- Vermont, Probate Files, 1800-1921
- Washington County, Probate Estate Files, 1862-1915
- Washington District Alphabetical Index to closed Estates, 1811-1988
- Washington District Guardian licence, V. 1, 1885-1912
- Washington District Guardian Records, 1821-1921
- Washington District Guardians, 1885-1917
- Washington District Probate Estate Files, 1862-1915
- Washington District Probate Records, 1811-1917
- Washington District Probate Records, Administrators, 1870-1913
- Washington District Probate Records, Bonds, V. 1-3, 1901-1919
- Washington District Probate Records, insolvency, 1878-1898
- Washington District Wills & Executors, 1871-1910
- Westminster District Alphabetical Card Index to Guardianships, 1781-1962
- Westminster District General Alphabetical Card Index to Case Files, 1781-1962
- Westminster District Probate Records, 1781-1916
- Westminster District Probate Records, 1781-1920
- Windham County Probate Records, 1809-1915
- Windham County, Westminster District, Probate Records, 1781-1920
- Windsor District General Alphabetical Card Index to Estate Files, 1787-1962
- Windsor District Guardians Records, 1805-1908
- Windsor District Probate Files, 1779-1906
- Windsor District Probate Index 1778-2004
- Windsor District Probate Records, 1787-1916
- Woodstock, Probate Records, Probate Index, 1778-2004, 1851-1918
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!