Record series
Register of Probates and Administrations Issued II
VPRS 20692
1900 - 1989
Open
North Melbourne
Agencies
This record series was created by:
Master in Equity, Supreme Court (also known as Master in Equity and Lunacy 1867-1923) ( VA2624 ): 1900 - 1948
Master of the Supreme Court ( VA2613 ): 1948 - 1960
Registrar of Probates, Supreme Court ( VA2620 ): 1960 - 1989
Agencies responsible for this record series: Registrar of Probates, Supreme Court ( VA 2620 ): 1960 - present
Date Range
Series date range: 1900 - 1989
Series in custody:
1900 - 1989
Contents in custody:
1889 - 1989
Function / Content
This series comprises the registers of Probates and Administrations Issued from 1889 until a computerised system of registration, SCORPION, was introduced in 1990. These registers were intended to function as a self-indexing register, replacing VPRS 261 (Register of Probates and Administrations Issued I) and following on from its accompanying index VPRS 262 (Index to Probates and Administrations Issued). Registers for the years 1889 to 1900 are a rewritten version of the final volumes of VPRS 261 arranged in alphabetical order by surname of the deceased. Each volume contains series and number (file number), name of deceased, late of, occupation, date of death, nature of grant, date of grant, and to whom committed.Each volume in this series was originally identified by wording 'Register of Probates and Administrations - Master of the Supreme Court - Issued' on the spine. However, due to heavy use of these volumes many of the spines and covers were replaced and the wording was omitted. From 1960, when the office of the Registrar of Probates and Administrations was established, all volumes were labeled 'Office of the Registrar of Probates', as were earlier volumes that were rebound after this date.
Due to the self-indexing nature of these registers an index to these registers was not created. These volumes were also regarded by the creating agencies as an index. This is indicated by title of VPRS 20696 Probates and Administrations Rough Index Books, which although referred to as index, was actually used to allocate file numbers to Issued Probates and Administrations prior to being formally entered into this register.
How to use the records
Volumes are separated by alphabetical range and year. The registers can then be used to identify the file of interest in VPRS 28 Probate and Administration Files, VPRS 7591 Wills, and VPRS 27 Transcription of Wills [also known as Register of Wills]. As these series can be searched by name, consulting this register is generally not a necessary step.Recordkeeping system
Issued Probates and Administrations were registered in batches. Each batch was arranged in alphabetical order by surname of the deceased prior to being allocated a file number. By 1909, this was done using the 'Rough Index' (VPRS 20696). It is unclear if a Rough Index was used to allocate file numbers prior to this date, it is likely that earlier volumes were discarded after the details were entered into the register.The register acted as a control record for Wills (VPRS 7591), Probate and Administration Files (VPRS 28) and entries in the Transcription/Register of Wills (VPRS 27). It was likely introduced in 1900 when use of the previous register (VPRS 261) ceased.
As this register includes details of Probates and Administrations Issued from 1889, it also functionally succeeds VPRS 262 Index to Probates and Administration Issued, which only spanned files issued from 1853 to 1888. The first set of these volumes then, are essentially an index to the later volumes of the previous register (VPRS 261).
