Items you might find in a probate packet:
- The original will(if one existed)
- Inventory of the Deceased's estate
- Records of the Estate Sale(items, price, and buyer)
- Additional court records if there are minor heirs or if a will is contested etc.
- Allotment records for the widow and minor heirs
- Records of Bond posted
- Affidavits on a number of subjects.
- Subpoenas of witnesses
- Records of death of the widow
- Land Records/Deed Plots
(these are just some I have found..your results may vary)
In addition to Williamson County, the database contains the following TN counties: Anderson, Carroll, Cheatham, Dickson, Franklin, Haywood, Henderson, Obion, and Tipton.
The record types covered are searchable and browsable and in some cases listed alphabetically:
ANDERSON
Divorce Court Minutes 1947-1949
Divorce Court Minutes 1949-1951
CARROLL
Divorce Court Files 1826-1900 (listed by Surname A-Z)
CHEATHAM
Divorce Records 1919-1950, A-Z
Marriage Bonds/Licenses 1904-1910
DICKSON
Death Records 1930-1939
Divorce Records 1849-1932, A-Wr
Original Wills 1800-1899
FRANKLIN
Divorce Records 1860-1900, A-W
Divorce Records 1900-1910, A-Z
Divorce Records 1900-1930, A-Z
Divorce Records 1910-1919, A-Z
Divorce Records 1920-1929, A-Z
Divorce Records 1930-1939, A-Z
HAYWOOD
Divorce Court Docket 1941-1965
Divorce Files 1860-1936
Divorce Index 1860-1936
Divorce, Probate and Other Files 1808-1885
HENDERSON
Chancery Court Records 1870-1915
Divorce Index 1896-1950
Divorce Records 1896-1950
Other Court Records 1800-1918
OBION
Divorce Records 1930-1939, Ve-Yo
Divorce Records 1940-1950, A-Wy
TIPTON
Divorce Index 1911-1950
Divorce Records 1911-1950, A-Z
Wills 1829-1950
WILLIAMSON
Divorce Files 1900-1950, A-Z
Divorce, Probate and Other Records 1800-1899, A-Z
Misc Records (Liquor Licenses thru Slave Records)
The Tennessee, Divorce and Other Records, 1800-1965 is a part of the Wills & Probates, Estates & Guardian Records Collection at Ancestry.com. If you save the files to your tree please be sure they are listed as probate and not divorce facts. Several years ago when I added a probate file for my Putmans from this database it would list the event as a divorce rather than a probate. This is fixable but not without some work manually editing sorce. This is likely something which could occur in mixed records sets and may be propagated if people aren't paying attention while they are adding the documents. Consult the database at Ancestry.com(if you aren't subscribed you may be able to view while at your local library.) Many of these files are also available at FamilySearch.org. Check the catalog there under Tennessee and the county in which you are interested.
