Public Record Office Victoria  
Home Contact Us Site Map
About PROV
Access to the Collection
Records Management
Events & Programs
Publications
Exhibitions
Education
 
Terms of use for accessing public records can be found on our Copyright statement.

Our addresses can be found on the Contact Us page.

Telephone:
+61 3 9348 5600
Freecall:
1800 657 452
Email:
ask.prov@prov.vic.gov.au

 
Series VPRS 525
Transcriptions of Wills [Also Known As Register of Wills] (Microfilm Copy of VPRS 27)
About this Series Related Series Accessing the records in this Series
Date Range: Series 1982 - 1986
  Series in Custody 1982 - 1986
  Contents 1842 - 1922
Public Access: Open
Location: Other
Format of Records:
 
Agency which created this SeriesAgency which created this Series
Display entries per page
Date Range Agency Title Agency Number
1842 - 1852 Supreme Court of N.S.W. for the District of Port Phillip VA 914
1852 - 1922 Master in Equity, Supreme Court (also known as Master in Equity and Lunacy 1867-1923) VA 2624
1982 - 1986 Public Record Office [also known as Public Record Office Victoria from c.1996] VA 683
Agency currently responsible for this SeriesAgency currently responsible for this Series
Display entries per page
Date Range Agency Title Agency Number
1982 - cont Public Record Office [also known as Public Record Office Victoria from c.1996] VA 683
Description of this SeriesDescription of this Series
  • How to use the Records
    1. Obtain the file number of the will from the index VPRS 3340 Index to Probates and Administrations Issued.

    2. Refer to the Records Description List and select the roll of film that includes the number of the desired will.

    On the microfilm, as in the volumes, transcribed wills are arranged in probate and administration file number order.

  • Function / Content
    This series consists of the microfilm copy of VPRS 27 Transcriptions of Wills [Also Known As Register of Wills]. These books were copied onto microfilm by the Public Record Office in 1982 (VPRS 525/P), and 1986 (VPRS 525/P1). Microfilming of the hardcopy register was undertaken in order to preserve the original records and to enable the information to be made available in each Public Record Office Public Search Room.

    These books of transcriptions of wills were known as registers in the Probate Office. The Register of Wills was created by the Office of the Registrar of Probates. This office was responsible for the granting of probate or letters of administration to the executors of estates of deceased persons. Executors had to apply to the Registrar for a grant of probate (if a will was found) or letter of administration (if there was no will) before the assets of the estate could be liquidated if the value of those assets exceeded a certain limit ($5,000 in 1986).

    Until 1922, presumably for ease of reference, the Registrar's Office removed wills from probate applications, copied and then filed them. These copies were initially handwritten, but later typed, and then bound to form the books in this series. The last will processed in this manner was will series 185 number 291. Subsequent wills were filed but not transcribed.

    Each reel of microfilm usually covers 2 or 3 registers. Wills were transcribed in file number order, the file number having been allocated to the probate or administration file upon lodgement of the application. In the first two registers the file number was sequential within each volume. In 1853, however, a new file registration system was commenced utilising a series number and a sequential number within the series. Each series contains one thousand files. Gaps within the numerical sequence of file numbers in the register indicate that there was no will and the estate required administration.

    The last will dealt with in this fashion was series 185 number 291. The Probate Office subsequently referred to the original wills.

  • Recordkeeping System
More research resourcesMore research resources
    PROVguide070 Wills and Probate Records
Indexes and RegistersIndexes and Registers
Display entries per page
Date Range Series Title Series Number
1841 - 1922 Index to Probates and Administrations Issued (Microform copy of the Probate Index and VPRS 262) VPRS 3340
1853 - 1889 Index to Probates and Administrations Issued VPRS 262
1854 - 1900 Register of Probates and Administrations Issued VPRS 261
Controlled SeriesControlled Series
Display entries per page
Date Range Series Title Series Number
Previous SeriesPrevious Series
Display entries per page
Transfer Date Series Title Series Number
Subsequent SeriesSubsequent Series
Display entries per page
Transfer Date Series Title Series Number
List/s of records in this seriesList/s of records in this series
Display entries per page
Consignment Number Contents Date Range Public Access No. of Units
Indexes and RegistersIndexes and Registers
Display entries per page
Date Range Series Title Series Number
1841 - 1922 Index to Probates and Administrations Issued (Microform copy of the Probate Index and VPRS 262) VPRS 3340
1853 - 1889 Index to Probates and Administrations Issued VPRS 262
1854 - 1900 Register of Probates and Administrations Issued VPRS 261
More research resourcesMore research resources
    PROVguide070 Wills and Probate Records

More Help
Help On This Page

A series is a group of records which are recorded or maintained by the same agency (or agencies)

Series information helps you to understand the context of records - why, when and by whom they were created.

To locate records use the "Accessing the records" tab.

More about series details pages

   
© Copyright 2005   Government of Victoria   Disclaimer    Accessibility   Privacy   Contact Us