Probate Packets copy service
A proportion of State archives are fragile and for this reason we may withhold access to the original archive until it has received attention from our Conservation staff. Archives will be checked on a case by case basis as they are requested either in the Reading Room or for a copy order. If an archive requires conservation treatment there will be a delay in the archive being issued and/or copied. Conservation treatments can take up to six months to be completed.
New! Purchase online
A new upgrade to Archives Investigator allows you to pre-order records prior to your visit and place an online copy order. Effectively, a 'Shopping Cart' system has been introduced.
Over 90,000 individual [NRS 13660] Probate Packets are available in Archives Investigator! Listed so far are:
- Series 1: April 1817 to c. May 1873
- Series 2: 1873 to 1876
- Series 3: 1876 to c.1890
- The years 1928-32, 1941-42 from Series 4
You can pre-order and purchase copies of these records.
Need help? See Tips on using Archives Investigator.
Placing your order offline
Not all Probate Packets are listed in Archives Investigator. You can order these 'offline'; the available files date to mid-1965 (to No. 598443). Download the print-friendly order form and post/fax it back to us along with your payment.
Please read this important information regarding the availability of Probate Packets.
Service Fee
The fee for this service is $45.00. This includes the copies, the administrative fee and postage/handling. We will copy the packet contents in its entirety or copies to the value of $30.00. We cannot look for particular documents as this would involve research and we do not undertake research on behalf of enquirers.
If the number of documents in the packet exceeds copies to the value of $30.00 you will be contacted and asked if you are willing to pay an additional amount to have the remainder of the packet copied. If you do not wish to pay the additional amount, the copies will be made in the order in which the documents are stored in the packet.
Information you need to provide
To order copies you will need to provide:
- the name of the deceased
- date of death
- Probate series
- Probate Packet Number, and
- Container/Box number (if known)
How do you find this information?
Check the Probate Index on microfiche
Available in both the reading rooms and many public libraries - to obtain the Series number and the Probate number number
The probate series are numbered from 1-4 and it is essential that you specifiy which series the probate packet you require is from:
- Series 1: April 1817 to c. May 1873
- Series 2: 1873 to 1876
- Series 3: 1876 to c.1890
- Series 4: c. 1890 onwards
This is a rough approximation of the years in each series. Your final reference should always be the Probate Index. The Probate Packet Guide is available in the reading rooms and lists the relevant box numbers for the Probate packets.
(Note: the actual probate records can be accessed in our reading room at the Western Sydney Records Centre 143 OConnell Street, Kingswood).
Search Archives Investigator for a name
You can now search Archives Investigator for an individual's name for Series 1, 2, 3 and for the years 1928-32, 1941-42 from Series 4 of the Probate Packets. Do a simple search, selecting all words. The Series and Probate numbers are listed together as the item number eg 2-15.
