Wills and Probate – Wills and Probate Records from 1926

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This PROVguide outlines how to order wills and probate records, created after 1925, for viewing in Public Record Office Victoria's (PROV's) reading room at the Victorian Archives Centre (VAC).

Wills and probate records are regularly transferred from the Probate Office to PROV. See the Accessing Wills and Probate Records web page for the current date range of records that can be accessed through PROV. As a general rule, probate records created within the last 7 to 10 years can be accessed through the Probate Office of the Supreme Court of Victoria: www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au.

Once ordered on PROV's online catalogue records are delivered to the VAC reading room Monday to Friday the following times: 10.00am and 2.00pm. Records are held in the VAC reading room for 10 working days before being returned to the repository. See PROVguide 21 Ordering Records for detailed information about ordering original records held by PROV.

How do I get a copy of a will or probate record?

Download digitised records

You can download digitised images of wills and probate records from PROV's website, free of charge, for the period 1841 - 1925. See PROVguide 29 Wills and Probate Records 1841- 1925 for details.

Digital camera in the reading room

If you have ordered original probate records for viewing in the reading room at the Victorian Archives Centre you can use your own digital camera free of charge to make copies, provided that conditions of use are observed. Please note: PROV cannot give permission for digital cameras to be used to copy original wills as the copyright is not held by the Crown. See PROVguide 24 Use of Digital Cameras in PROV Reading Rooms for details.

In person in the reading room

PROV cannot order and copy records in response to written requests and phone calls. We can assist you to place your copy order when you visit the reading room at the Victorian Archives Centre to view the original records you have ordered online. See PROVguide 2 Copying Services for information about PROV's copying services and charges.

Search agents

If you are unable to visit the Victorian Archives Centre to view records and arrange your copy order, you may wish to hire a search agent to undertake this on your behalf. See the PROV Wiki for contact details.

Further information

· See PROVguide 29 Wills and Probate Records 1841- 1925 for detailed information about the online Victorian Probate Index and digitised wills and probate records 1841 - 1925.

· See PROVguide 70 Wills and Probate Records for information about a locating a range of probate-related records held by PROV.

· See PROVguide 21 Ordering Records for detailed information about ordering original records held by PROV.

· See HOW TOguides 68A, 68B and 29 for step by step instructions on how to search Wills and Probate Records.