LIMITATIONS TO PRINTED PROBATE RECORDS

Problems with original probate records include some of the items below.
  • Difficulty deciphering handwriting or faded ink.
  • An inadequate, lacking, or strangely arranged index.
  • Being filed in a county other than where the deceased lived or owned property.
  • Unfamiliar abbreviations for legal terms with obscure meanings for the present-day researcher.
  • A lack of understanding of the probate process during the time period under study.

It is important to understand these problems, so you can avoid them in your own research.

Several limitations were mentioned in your textbook. Compare the limitations to printed probate records with how you might be able to overcome them by matching the problem and the solution below:

PROBLEM SOLUTION
Limited jurisdictional coverage Other records such as census, land and property, and county histories may need to be consulted.
Lack of an every-name index Read the introduction to the book.
Incomplete compilation Search for all name variants
Errors in transcription, typing or interpretation Be aware of other names in the area you are searching, such as relatives and neighbors.
Inaccuracies in dates and numbers. Check sequential entries preceding and following the one in question.
Limitations of scope Compare and evaluate transcriptions and the original source.
Misleading titles Check all your surnames in the original sources
Incomplete collection Check the original source

 


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