Last updated:

February 13, 2017

Wills and probate records

Wills and probate records created between 1841 and 1925 have been indexed and are digitised and available online free of charge.  Wills and probate records created between 1926 – 2014 have now been indexed and are available to order online and view within our reading room at North Melbourne (for records up to the end of 2014, use these steps.)  We currently hold Wills and Probate files that have been administered by the Victorian Probate office from 1841 to 2014, and some 2015 records for matters which commenced in 2014 or earlier.

 

Access is available using the online Victorian Probate Index, with access to digitised wills and probate records free of charge through PROV’s online catalogue at www.access.prov.vic.gov.au.  See the Accessing Wills and Probate Records web page for the current date range of records that can be accessed through PROV.  Probate records which have not yet been transferred to PROV can be accessed through the Probate Office of the Supreme Court of Victoria www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au.

 

Using will and probate images

Images of digitised will and probate documents can be downloaded from PROV’s website free of charge and used for personal research.  Before any records held by PROV can be reproduced, for example in a printed publication, exhibition or website, the written permission of the copyright holder must first be obtained. Please consult Copyright for Researchers for details.

 

Material in the Public Record Office Victoria archival collection contains words and descriptions that reflect attitudes and government policies at different times which may be insensitive and upsetting

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples should be aware the collection and website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.

PROV provides advice to researchers wishing to access, publish or re-use records about Aboriginal Peoples

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