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Record series

Probate and Administration Applications Rough Index

VPRS 20696
by 1909 - 1990
Open
North Melbourne
About Record items Record groupings Related record series Related functions

Agencies

This record series was created by:
Master of the Supreme Court ( VA2613 ): 1948 - 1960
Registrar of Probates, Supreme Court ( VA2620 ): 1960 - 1990
Master in Equity, Supreme Court (also known as Master in Equity and Lunacy 1867-1923) ( VA2624 ): 1909 - 1948
Agencies responsible for this record series:
Registrar of Probates, Supreme Court ( VA 2620 ): 1960 - present

Date Range

Series date range: 1909 - 1990
Series in custody: 1909 - 1990
Contents in custody: 1909 - 1990

Function / Content

This series comprises the volumes used to allocate file numbers to Probate and Administration Files (VPRS 28) once issued. Although these volumes were referred to within the creating agencies as the rough index, they were not functionally an index, but rather used to allocate file numbers to files prior to being formally entered into the register (VPRS 20692). Non-issued applications are also identified in these indices but do not record the non-issue probate number.

Entries in the volumes initially record the surname and name of the deceased, the file number and type of application. Later volumes only record the file number, the initial and surname of the deceased. Any entry which does not contain a file number is a non-issued probate or administration.

Early volumes in this series are repurposed cash books and other types of pre-printed volumes, indicating that these volumes weren't considered formal registers in their own right. It is possible that earlier volumes were discarded once the details were entered into the formal register (VPRS 20692). As the only record demonstrating how probate and administration files were registered, it was also used by the agency to resolve any disputes or problems that involved alleged or actual instances of incorrect or non-allocation of probate file numbers as revealed on either the files themselves or in the formal register.

How to use the records

Each volume covers a specified range of file numbers. Use the record description to identify the volume of interest.

Although these volumes can be used to access records in VPRS 28 and VPRS 7591, these series can be searched by name and so consulting this index is not a necessary step.

Recordkeeping system

Probate and Administration Files were processed in batches. These batches were then arranged into rough alphabetical order then allocated the file number in sequence once issued. Each volume is therefore arranged in chronological then alphabetical order. A small number of entries missed from the previous allocation usually follows at the end of each batch. A consequence of this arrangement is that entries are, with the exception of non-probate entries, essentially in file number order. It appears entries were made this way to establish the order in which the entries were to be entered into the formal register (VPRS 20692). This system remained in use until an electronic system known as SCORPION was introduced to register Probate and Administration Files.