A guide to family history research using the major Victorian resources
A will is the indication of how a person wished his/her estate to be disposed of at death. Probate is the judicial determination of the validity of a will. Wills should always be probated in each state where real estate property was held.
When a person dies without leaving a valid will, particularly when property is left, in most cases letters of administration will be issued by a court appointed administrator.
There is no central archive of Australian wills and related documents. Collections are held in each state, in either the relevant state archives office or at the Supreme Court registry.
1841-2016 |
The Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) hold Wills and Probate files that have been administered by the Victorian Probate office from 1841 to 2014, and some 2015 records for matters which commenced in 2014 or earlier. 1841-1925 1853-1951 1926-2016 |
2017- |
Grants of representation filed with the Court on, or after, 1 January 2017, are stored at the Supreme Court of Victoria Probate Office. Fees apply to search a file and photocopy any documents. Further information can be found on the Supreme Court of Victoria, Wills & Probate website. |
Further inquiries |
Further inquiries should be directed to the Public Record Office Victoria - Tel: 1800 657 452 (toll free in Australia) Probate Applications: Caveat and Wills Indices Electronic Applications and Caveat & Wills Indices have replaced all index books formerly located in the Probate Office. |
Go to Graham Jaunay's website How to locate Australian wills for a list of available indexes and online resources.
Australian |
Telephone: (02) 6207 1786 |
New South Wales |
1817-1976, and 1989 (part of) Early probate packets are kept at the State Records, NSW. Supreme Court of New South Wales Telephone: 1300 679 272 |
Northern Territory |
Probate index - 1885-1941 Probate Clerk Telephone: (08) 8999 6562 |
Queensland |
Various online indexes available. The Registrar |
South Australia |
Telephone: (08) 8204 0505 |
Tasmania |
Telephone: (03) 6233 3716 |
Western Australia |
See: Information sheet: Grants of probate (wills) and letters of administration Probate Office Telephone: (08) 9421 5152 |