How to Find Probate Court Records: Wills, Estates & Online Research

Where Probate Records Are Filed

Probate proceedings are typically filed in:

• The county where the deceased person was a legal resident at time of death
• The county where the deceased owned real property (for ancillary probate)
• Trust courts or equity courts in some states (probate may be called 'surrogate's court' in New York, 'orphans' court' in Pennsylvania and Maryland)

Understanding which court has jurisdiction is the first step in your search. Because probate is handled at the county level - not the state or federal level - the location of the deceased's last domicile determines where primary probate proceedings will be found. In larger states like California, Texas, or New York, this means navigating dozens of individual county court systems, each with its own portal and access procedures.

If the deceased owned real estate in multiple states, ancillary probate proceedings may have been filed in those states as well. Always check every state where the person owned titled real property, not just their home state. The US Courts website can help orient you to the federal court structure, while Nolo's probate and estates guide provides a practical overview of what triggers probate in each state.

How to Search Probate Records Online

1. 1
   Find the county court

   Identify the county where the deceased lived. Search '[county name] probate court records' to find the appropriate court. Many county courts have online search portals that include probate cases. Learn more about court record removal on our blog.

2. 2
   Search the state court portal

   Many states include probate cases in their statewide court portal. Search the deceased's name in the civil or probate case section. Not all states separate probate from general civil cases in their portals. Learn more about background check reports on our blog.

3. 3
   Check genealogy databases

   Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and FindMyPast have digitized probate records - particularly wills and inventories - going back centuries. For historical estates, these are often the best starting point.

4. 4
   Contact the court clerk directly

   If online search returns no results, contact the probate or county court clerk directly. Provide the deceased's name, approximate date of death, and last known address. Clerks can typically confirm whether a probate file exists and how to obtain copies.

What to Expect in a Probate File

A typical probate court file contains a substantial amount of information about the deceased and their estate. Understanding what you will find - and what it means - helps you target the right documents when you access the file.

Unlike many civil court records that contain only legal motions and orders, probate files are more comprehensive: they contain inventories of assets, valuations, creditor correspondence, and detailed family information. This breadth of information is why probate records are so valuable for genealogical research - but it also means they contain more sensitive personal and financial details than most court record types. See our guide on how to search court records for broader context on court record access.

A typical probate court file contains:

• The will (if any) - once admitted to probate, wills are public
• Death certificate (sometimes)
• Petition for appointment of executor/administrator
• List of heirs and beneficiaries
• Inventory and appraisal of assets
• Creditor claims and responses
• Final accounting of the estate
• Order of distribution to beneficiaries