Wills and probate records in Ireland offer valuable insights into family relationships, property ownership, and social status. Historically, the Principal Probate Registry was established in 1858, centralizing probate matters previously managed by ecclesiastical courts. While many earlier records were lost in the 1922 Public Record Office fire, indexes and copies of wills from before that date survive in part. Post-1858 probate calendars and grants provide detailed information about the deceased, their heirs, and executors. For genealogists researching their Irish roots, these documents are indispensable for tracing lineage, confirming family ties, and understanding inheritance patterns. Regional registries, especially in Dublin, further enrich the research. Today, digitized indexes make these records increasingly accessible, offering a vital window into Ireland’s legal and familial history.
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Government, Land, Court & Wills
Wills & Probates
- Ireland, Calendars of Wills and Administrations 1857-1920 1,016,445 records
- Northern Ireland, Wills and Administrations 488,102 records
- Index of Irish Wills, 1484 - 1858 70,388 records
- Vicar's, Prerogative Wills of Ireland, 1536 - 1810 40,663 records
- Diocese of Dublin Wills, 1634 - 1858 35,867 records
- Philimorre & Thrift, Indexes to Irish Wills, 1536 - 1858 32,483 records
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