Probate records and wills are available online from all over the U.S. and are what I consider another hidden gem of information that can assist you in advancing your family history and genealogy research.
What can you find in these records? How about date of death, spouses and children names, birth order, siblings and siblings spouses, parents names, and residence locations for all named persons. Also, ownership of land and/or other significant property, business names and occupation, military service, guardianships, and adoptions. Basically anything owned by the deceased is typically listed and to whom it is to be assigned to.
I won't pretend to be an expert on the probate process - all I know is that I have discovered an amazing amount of good information from probate records and wills as part of my personal genealogy research.
Here are a few good primers on the benefits of searching probate documents and wills:
- FamilySearch - United States Probate Records
- Wills and Probate Records are Genealogy Riches
- How to Use Wills and Estate Records to Learn About Your Ancestors
- Probate Records Could Be the Key to Unlocking Your Family’s Hidden Past
Below, listed by state are links to probate records, wills, and indexes available for free online.
Note: Please be aware that if you find a desired will or probate record in an index, that the holder of the actual materials (e.g., (archive, county court, etc.) may charge a small fee to send you a copy of the material itself.
Note: Some of the links listed below take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections' images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital.
(Updated November, 2019; recently added links are in BOLD)
- Allen County Will Records, 1866-1918
- Allen County Probate Journals, 1858-1926; Index, 1858-1963
- Anderson County Probate Journals, 1855-1918
- Anderson County Record of Wills, 1869-1919
- Atchison County Probate Court Case Files, ca. 1860-1917
- Bourbon County Probate Journal, 1864-1920; Index, 1864-1949
- Bourbon County Record of Wills, 1858-1925
- Brown County General Indexes to Probate Records, 1857-1985
- Brown County Probate Journals, 1860-1919
- Brown County Records and proofs of Wills, 1870-1920
- Brown County Records of Administrators, Executors, and Guardians (Settlement Records), 1857-1921
- Brown County Records of Bonds and Letters, 1877-1926
- Brown County Records of Inventories and Appraisements, 1869-1935
- Brown County Records of Sales of real and personal property, 1869-1928
- Butler County Wills Index 1869-1901
- Butler County Wills
- Chase County Probate Case Files, 1856-1939
- Chase County Probate Court General Index, 1866-2000
- Chase County Probate Packet Index 1856-1939
- Chase County Will Records, 1884-1930
- Chase County, Probate, Guardianship, Wills and Miscellaneous Index 1859 - 1939
- Chautauqua County General Index, 1871-1928 and miscellaneous court Records, 1871-1919
- Chautauqua County General Index, Probate Records, 1871-1917
- Chautauqua County Miscellaneous estate and guardian Records, 1871-1928, Kansas
- Chautauqua County Probate Court Case Files, Kansas, 1871-1927
- Cherokee County Deed Records, 1866-1927, and Index, 1869-1872, 1875-1884
- Cherokee County Probate Court proceedings, 1872-1918
- Cherokee County Wills, 1870-1917
- Clay County Probate Records, ca. 1872-1931
- Clay County Wills, 1867-1922
- Coffey County Probate Packets, 1857-1920 ; Index to Probate Packets, 1857-1986
- Coffey County Record of Wills, 1861-1919
- Crawford County Wills, 1868-1904
- Crawford County Will Records, 1868-1921
- Dickinson County Probate Case Files, 1882-1942
- Doniphan County Abstracts of Judgments, 1856-1914
- Doniphan County Administrators Accounts, 1881-1932
- Doniphan County Administrators Records, 1872-1919 ; Docket, 1868-1874
- Doniphan County Guardianship Records, 1881-1931
- Doniphan County Index to Probate Records, ca. 1856-1912
- Doniphan County Inventory and appraisement Records, 1861-1917
- Doniphan County Petitions and Records of sales of real Estate and personal property, 1874-1935
- Doniphan County Probate Case Files, ca. 1857-1917 ; Index, 1851-1991
- Doniphan County Probate Journals, 1855-1923
- Doniphan County Probate Records, 1915-1938
- Doniphan County Settlement Books, v. A-B, 1857-1909
- Doniphan County Will Records, 1876-1917
- Doniphan County, Probate Index, 1852-1908
- Douglas County District Court Journals, 1863-1920
- Douglas County Probate Records, 1855-1925 ; Indexes, 1857-1965
- Elk County District Court civil Appearance Dockets, var. 1890-1910 and District Court Probate Journals, 1875-1920
- Elk County Grantor/grantee Indexes, 1871-1875, numerical general deeds Indexes, 1882-1939, deeds, tax and warranty Records, ca. 1870-1900
- Elk County Probate General Index, var. 1874-1985 and settlements and guardians, va. 1875-1920
- Elk County Probate Records 1872-1926
- Elk County Record of foreign Wills, ca. 1887-1927
- Elk County Sale of real estate, 1877-1929 and inventory of appraisal Records, 1883-1930
- Ford County Wills Index
- Franklin County Probate Records Index
- Franklin County Probate Packets and Index, 1859-1917
- Franklin County Record of Wills, 1863-1921
- Geary County Administrators Index, 1856-1876
- Geary County Letters of Guardianship, v. B, 1902-1939
- Geary County Probate Case Files, ca. 1860-1929
- Geary County Record of Administrators' and Executors' Bonds, v. B, 1905-1924
- Geary County Record of Letters of Administrators, v. A, 1869-1900
- Geary County Record of Sales and Sale bills, v. A, 1869-1902
- Geary County Records of Final Settlements, v. A-B, 1868-1913
- Geary County Records of Inventories and Appraisements, 1869-1913
- Geary County Records of Wills, 1898-1923
- Greenwood County Court journals, 1868-1921
- Greenwood County District Court, Appearance Dockets, 1871-1925,
- Greenwood County Index, 1857-1917 and Records of Wills, 1870-1920
- Greenwood County Inventory and appraisement, 1857-1921, and Index, 1857-1917
- Greenwood County Petition to sell real estate for minors and guardians,1898-1927
- Greenwood County Probate Court General Index, 1857-2003 and Court cases, ca. 1858-1920
- Harvey County Estate Records, 1885-1935
- Harvey County Probate Court General Index, 1981-1995
- Harvey County Probate Court Journals, 1888-1916
- Harvey County Record of Wills "A", 1872-1891
- Harvey County Record of Wills, 1885-1918
- Howard, Elk County, Probate Records Index Book A, 1870-1899.
- Howard, Elk County, Probate Records Index Book A, 1900-1920.
- Jackson County Abstracts of Claims and Judgments, presented and allowed, 1867-1933
- Jackson County Appearance Records, 1867-1882, and Dockets, 1913-1914
- Jackson County Petitions to sell and Record of sales of real Estate, 1881-1936
- Jackson County Probate Court fee books, 1879-1920
- Jackson County Probate Journals, 1855-1919
- Jackson County Probate minute books, 1856-1869
- Jackson County Probate Records, 1856-1930 ; General Indexes, 1857-1954
- Jackson County Record of Estates, v. A, 1899-1917
- Jackson County Record of Guardians' petitions and Bonds, v. B, 1895-1919
- Jackson County Records of Accounts, 1861-1924
- Jackson County Records of Inventories and Appraisal, 1877-1929
- Jefferson County Administrators' and Guardians' Records, 1866-1892, 1902-1935
- Jefferson County Probate Case Files (estates), ca. 1858-1917 ; Indexes, ca. 1860-1960
- Jefferson County Probate Records, 1855-1930
- Jefferson County Records of petitions and miscellaneous petitions, 1863-1925
- Johnson County District Court Probate Record Search
- Kearny County Wills Index
- Linn County Will Records, 1866-1921; Probate Records, 1856-1866; Probate journals, 1863-1919
- Marshall County Administrators Index, 1857-1885
- Marshall County Administrators Records, 1910-1923
- Marshall County Certified copies [of] Wills, Letters, etc., 1884-1938
- Marshall County Court Dockets, 1887-1898
- Marshall County General Index, 1865-1880
- Marshall County Guardian's index and Estate of minor heirs, 1862-1886
- Marshall County Guardian's Letters and Bonds, 1883-1922
- Marshall County Miscellaneous Record including descent, 1917-1948
- Marshall County Probate Case Files, ca. 1859-1939
- Marshall County Probate Court Journal, 1877-1918
- Marshall County Real Estate Record, 1886-1903
- Marshall County Record inventory & appraisement [of] decedent, 1883-1921
- Marshall County Record of Accounts against Estates, 1862-1883
- Marshall County Record of Administrator's and Executor's final Accounts, 1860-1920
- Marshall County Record of Administrator's and Guardian's Accounts, 1883-1918
- Marshall County Record of Bonds of Executors & Administrators, 1859-1884
- Marshall County Record of Estates and Accounts when due, 1897-1911
- Marshall County Record of Guardian Bonds, 1860-1890
- Marshall County Record of inventories, 1857-1885
- Marshall County Record of inventory & appraisement of minor heirs, 1883-1905
- Marshall County Record of Letters, testimentary & Administration, and Bonds, 1857-1928
- Marshall County Record of orders and minutes of the Court, 1863-1877
- Marshall County Record of Sales & Sale bills, 1859-1909
- Marshall County Record of Wills, 1883-1918
- Marshall County Record Sales of real Estate, 1859-1920
- Marshall County Sale of real Estate by Executors and Administrators, 1898-1919
- McPherson County Civil Appearance Dockets, 1871-1920
- McPherson County Probate Case Files, 1871-1917; Index to Probate Case Files, 1859-1917
- McPherson County Probate Records, 1877-1919
- McPherson County Record of Wills (1875-1921) and Probate Court Records (1871-1927)
- Miami County Probate Case Files, 1857-ca.1919 ; Index, 1857-ca.1919
- Miami County Probate Records, 1857-1920; General Index, 1860-1924
- Morris County Estate and Guardianship Records, 1879-1930
- Morris County Probate Case Files, 1856-1917
- Morris County Probate Court Appearance Docket, 1907-1924
- Morris County Record of Wills, 1864-1924
- Nemaha County Case Files, ca. 1857-1947; Index, ca. 1857-1947
- Nemaha County Docket of Executors, Administrators and Guardians
- Nemaha County Probate Records, 1857-1965
- Nemaha County Records of Accounts when due, 1857-1934
- Neosho County Miscellaneous Record books, Probate Court, 1902-1919
- Neosho County Probate estate files, Probate Court, 1868-1917
- Neosho County Probate Journals, 1867-1921
- Neosho County Will Records, 1866-1920
- Norton County, Probate Case Files, 1877-1935
- Osage County Estate Records, 1877-1931
- Osage County Guardians and Administrators Records including sales of real Estate, 1882-1930
- Osage County Guardians Letters and Bonds, 1877-1931
- Osage County Probate Case Files, ca. 1859-1946; card file Index, 1859-1946
- Osage County Probate Court Journals, 1867-1922
- Osage County Settlement Books, 1881-1927
- Osage County Will Records, 1861-1922
- Potawatomi Agency Probate Records, 1859-1914
- Pottawatomie County Abstract of Judgments, 1894-1901
- Pottawatomie County Appearance Docket, 1869-1873
- Pottawatomie County General Index (allowance journal), v. 1, 1868-1920
- Pottawatomie County Guardians' and Administrators' Accounts, 1870-1919
- Pottawatomie County Inventory and appraisement of minor heirs, 1880-1892
- Pottawatomie County Journal (of Estates), v. 2, 1857-1868
- Pottawatomie County Journals, 1857-1919 ; Docket, 1869-1900
- Pottawatomie County Letters testamentary & Bonds, v. A, 1884-1917
- Pottawatomie County Letters testamentary with will annexed and Administrator's Bond, v. A, 1911-1930
- Pottawatomie County Probate Case Files, 1857-1917
- Pottawatomie County Record and notification of Administrator, Executor, or Guardian, v. A, 1889-1908
- Pottawatomie County Record of Sales and Sale bills, v. A (or no. 1), 1877-1933
- Pottawatomie County Records of Guardians' and Administrators' Letters and Bonds, 1873-1929
- Pottawatomie County Records of Inventories and Appraisements, 1868-1915
- Pottawatomie County Records of real Estate and Sales, 1877-1909
- Pottawatomie County Records of Wills and Bonds, 1869-1932
- Rice County Wills Index 1880s-1890s
- Riley County Administrators' or Executors' Accounts, 1881-1921
- Riley County Executors' Letters and Bonds Record, v. A, 1897-1925
- Riley County Guardianship Records, 1885-1942
- Riley County Probate Case Files, 1857-1939 ; Indexes, 1858-1939
- Riley County Record of Administrator's Letters and Bonds, v. C, 1909-1931
- Riley County Records and Journals, 1866-1919
- Riley County Records of Inventories and Appraisements, 1880-1927
- Riley County Records of Sales and Sale bills, 1881-1939
- Riley County Will Records, 1866-1921
- Rush County Miscellaneous Probate Court Records, 1856-1933
- Rush County Probate Court Case Files (1856-2004), master Index (1881-2004), and General Index (1878-1969)
- Rush County Records of Wills, 1881-1986
- Saline County Probate Case Files, 1867-1934; Index to Probate Case Files, 1867-1934
- Sedgwick County Probate Index 1870 - 1917
- Sedgwick County Abstract of Claims, 1889-1923
- Sedgwick County Administrators' and guardians bonds 1870-1920
- Sedgwick County Administrators/Guardians/Executors accounts 1873-1917
- Sedgwick County Applications for letters of administration 1901-1920
- Sedgwick County Executors bonds 1910-1944
- Sedgwick County Guardian's Inventory, 1885-1915
- Sedgwick County Guardianship Bonds 1885-1923
- Sedgwick County Letters of administration 1885-1920
- Sedgwick County Letters of Guardianship, 1885-1924
- Sedgwick County Letters testamentary, 1886-1919
- Sedgwick County Petition for Guardianship, 1901-1919
- Sedgwick County Petition for Probate of Wills, 1907-1921
- Sedgwick County Probate Case Files, 1870-1917
- Sedgwick County Probate Court docket 1870-1911
- Sedgwick County Probate Court Journals, 1871-1917
- Sedgwick County Record of Inventory and Appraisement of personal property, etc., 1916-1918
- Sedgwick County Record of Wills, 1896-1918
- Sedgwick County Records of real Estate, 1885-1919
- Shawnee County Probate Court Records : Index books
- Shawnee County Probate Case Files, 1895-1898
- Shawnee County Probate Records, 1859-1935 ; Probate Court Indexes, 1877-1926
- Thomas County, Probate Court Records
- Wabaunsee County Abstract of Estates, 1891-1901
- Wabaunsee County Accounts against Administrators, v. A, 1881-1935
- Wabaunsee County Administration and Guardian Case Files, 1857-1917 ; Index, 1857-1990
- Wabaunsee County Fee books, v. 1-3, 1898-1920
- Wabaunsee County Miscellaneous Records, 1865-1945
- Wabaunsee County Petitions and affidavits, 1870-1918
- Wabaunsee County Probate Court fee dockets, 1876-1913
- Wabaunsee County Probate Court Journals, 1859-1918
- Wabaunsee County Probate Court Records, v. A's, 1859-1922
- Wabaunsee County Record of Accounts when due, v. 1, 1890-1904
- Wabaunsee County Record of final settlements, 1892-1935
- Wabaunsee County Records of Administrators' or Executors' Accounts, 1870-1936
- Wabaunsee County Records of Guardian Accounts, 1880-1938
- Wabaunsee County Records of Inventory and Appraisement, 1870-1928
- Wabaunsee County Records of Letters and Bonds, 1870-1937
- Wabaunsee County Records of notices of appointment, Final Settlements, and proofs of publication, 1899-1939
- Wabaunsee County Records of Sale bills of personal property, 1859-1937
- Wabaunsee County Records of Sales of real Estate, 1881-1920
- Wabaunsee County Records of Wills, 1864-1918
- Washington County Guardianship and Estate Records, ca. 1869-1936
- Washington County Probate Court General Index, 1862-1993
- Washington County Probate Records 1865-1975
- Wilson County Probate Journals, 1869-1918
- Wilson County Will Records, 1871-1920
- Woodson County Probate Court Journals, 1864-1920
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Woodson County Record of Wills, 1874-1920; proof of Will Record, 1911-1962
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
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