RG 004:128, Simsbury Probate Court

Inventory of Records

Finding aid prepared by Connecticut State Library staff.

Copyright © 2013 by the Connecticut State Library

Historical Note

The Simsbury Probate District was constituted May 1769, from the Hartford Probate District. It also served the following municipalities at various times: Barkhamsted, May 1769 - May 1825; Canton, May 1806 - June 6, 1841; Colebrook, May 1769 - May 1779; Granby, October 1786 - May 1807; Hartland, May 1765 - May 1807; New Hartford, October 1800 - May 1825; and Winchester, May 1769 - May 1779. The Simsbury Probate District merged on January 5, 2011 with the Avon, Canton, and Granby Probate Districts to create the Simsbury Regional Probate District which serves the municipalities of Avon, Canton, Granby, and Simsbury.

Town of Simsbury, Probate District chronology:

May 1670 - May 1769, Hartford District
May 1769 - January 4, 2011, Simsbury District
January 5, 2011 - Present, Simsbury Regional District

For Probate Court contact information and hours of operation see, Probate Court Directory.

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Scope and Content

Probate record books, volumes 1-51, 1769-1942. Contact the probate court to access original record books numbered after 51. See Alternative Form Available note below.

Probate files, 1769-1928. Probate files may consist of estates, conservatorships, guardianships, commitments, and insolvencies. See Alternative Form Available note below.

Inventory control book, 1769-1906 (coverage). Also known as the Godard Digest, it is a list of probate files transferred to the Connecticut State Library. It was compiled at the Connecticut State Library under the direction of State Librarian George S. Godard.

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Arrangement

Record books in accession 2011-004 are numnbered 1 to 51. There is also an unnumbered volume of bonds.

Probate files in accessions 1913-007 and 2011-004 are arranged alphabetically.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Researchers should first consult use copies when available. See Alternate Form Available Section below.

Accession 2011-004, Record books, 1769-1942 and probate files, 1907-1928, is stored at an off-site facility and therefore may not be available on a same-day basis.

Probate files dated 1921 or later are RESTRICTED pending review by State Archives staff as they may contain confidential documents. Tax returns (succession, transfer and estate tax returns and all attachments) from January 1, 1921 and later are confidential per Connecticut General Statutes §12-15. Adoptions (all documents) from January 1, 1944 and later are confidential per Connecticut General Statutes §45a-754. Removals of parent as guardian of minor (all documents) and terminations of parental rights (all documents) from October 1, 1975 and later are confidential per Connecticut General Statutes §45a-754. Contact State Archives staff for assistance. Adoptions (all documents) from January 1, 1944 and later are confidential per Connecticut General Statutes §45a-754. Contact State Archives staff for assistance.

See the Rules and Procedures for Researchers Using Archival Records and Secured Collections policy.

Restrictions on Use

See the Reproduction and Publications of State Library Collections policy.

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Index Terms

Subjects:

Places:

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Administrative Information

Alternative Form Available

Record books, volumes 1-29, 1769-1917; probate files, 1769-1906 (Accession 1913-007); and inventory control book (Godard Digest) were microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah and are available for use in the History and Genealogy reading room or through the LDS Family History Centers.

Provenance

The probate files in accession 1913-007 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on the following dates (with date span of files): December 5, 1913 (1769-1906).

The record books and probate files in accession 2011-004 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on July 15, 2010.

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Other Finding Aid

Record Books: Index cards for the record books have been scanned. Ask History and Genealogy staff for assistance. See Alternate Form Available section for volumes available on microfilm.

Probate Files: The Probate Estate Papers Index, located in the index corridor adjacent to the History and Genealogy Reading Room, has two parts, a general index covering most of the state, and a Hartford Probate District index covering Hartford and some surrounding towns, 1820-1920. The index cards are arranged alphabetically by individual's last name and first names. The cards have the individual's name, town of residence, probate district, and list of items contained in the estate packet. To request retrieval of an estate packet, copy at least the estate name, file date, and probate district name from the index card. The probate files in Accession 1913-007 are represented in this index.

Probate Files: The History and Genealogy reference staff has access to an index for the probate files in accession 2011-004.

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