Source:New South Wales, Australia. Will Books 1800-1952

Hundreds of thousands of New South Wales wills, dating from 1800 to 1952, (with most dating from 1846), are available to search online for the very first time.

These records are copies of original Will Books held by the State Records Authority of New South Wales. Between 1800 and 1924, the copies of the wills were handwritten, whereas between 1924 and 1952 the copies were typed. In 1952 the copies were altered to photocopies.

Once probate was granted for a will, meaning that it had been validated as genuine, the will was then deposited with the Registrar of the Probate Office. The original will and its accompanying documents were then held in Probate packets (NRS 13660), which were restricted to family members of the deceased or their legal representatives. However, from roughly 1800 onwards, copies of the wills were held in the Will Books.

The New South Wales Wills Books includes some wills of those in other states and countries, typically in cases where the individual was a resident of New South Wales but their last place of residence was outside the state. In other cases, people who lived elsewhere may have lodged their will in New South Wales despite not living there, particularly if they had property or shares in the state.

The Supreme Court of New South Wales divided both Will Books and Probate packets into series. The series of Will Books are:

   Series 1 – approximately 1800 – May 1873

   Series 2 – 1873 – 1876

   Series 3 – 1876 – approximately 1890

   Series 4 – approximately 1890 – 1985

Each series consists of volumes containing copies of original wills, all arranged numerically. It remains unclear why these records were divided and categorised into series.

Accompanying documentation to these wills can sometimes involve codicils such as additions or revocations to the will.

Original data: NRS 13661, Will Books 1800-1952, Microfilm, 343 reels