The wills and probate records from Victoria date from 1841 and are managed by the Supreme Court of Victoria. Probate files typically include a will (if one existed), grants of probate or administration, and detailed inventories of assets. As Victoria experienced a major population boom during the gold rush era, probate records from the mid-19th century onward are especially rich and numerous. These documents provide vital genealogical data, such as names of heirs, occupations, relationships, and addresses. Many records have been digitized and indexed through the Public Record Office Victoria. For researchers tracing Victorian ancestors, probate records are a critical source for reconstructing family trees, especially in the absence of complete civil or church records.
