Australian wills and probate records provide detailed insights into individuals' lives, property, and family relationships across the country’s colonial and modern periods. Probate matters are handled at the state level, meaning each state maintains its own records and procedures. Most probate files include wills, inventories, and letters of administration, often revealing heirs, executors, and detailed property holdings. Colonial-era records date back to the early 19th century and are generally held by state archives and supreme courts. Because Australia lacked civil registration until the mid-to-late 1800s, these records are crucial substitutes for missing vital records. Increasing digitization—particularly through archives and genealogical platforms—has made probate materials accessible, making them indispensable for tracing Australian ancestry.
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Government, Land, Court & Wills
Wills & Probates
- Australia, Victoria, Will and Probate Index 1850-2009 1,389,178 records
