RG 004:143, Torrington Probate Court

Inventory of Records

Finding aid prepared by Connecticut State Library staff.

Copyright © 2013 by the Connecticut State Library

Historical Note

Torrington, Litchfield County, Town established in October 1740, City incorporated January 1923

The Torrington Probate District was constituted June 16, 1847, from the Litchfield Probate District. It also served the municpality of Goshen beginning in May 1895. The Torrington Probate District merged with the New Hartford and Winchester Probate Districts on January 5, 2011 to create the Torrington Area Probate District which serves the municipalities of Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Goshen, Hartland, New Hartford, Torrington, and Winchester.

City of Torrington, Probate District chronology:

October 1740 - October 1742, Hartford District
October 1742 - June 15, 1847, Litchfield District
June 16, 1847 - January 4, 2011, Torrington District
January 5, 2011 - Present, Torrington Area 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 1-35, 1847-1935; Bond record books, 1881-1929; a volume of commitments titled, "Insane", 1911-1918. Contact the probate court to access original record books afver volume 35. See Alternative Form Available note below.

Probate files, 1847-1976. Probate files may consist of estates, conservatorships, guardianships, commitments, and insolvencies. See Alternative Form Available note below.

Inventory control book, 1847-1905 (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 2011-028 are arranged numerically 1-35. There are 3 bond volumes numbered 1-3 and a volume of commitments titled "Insane" numbered 1.

Probate files in accession 1911-012 are arranged alphabetically.

Probate files in accession 2011-029 are arranged as received from the probate court.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

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

Accession 2011-028, Record books, 1847-1935, and Accession 2011-029, Probate files, 1881-1976, are 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 1-15, 17-22, 24-25, 1847-1925; probate files, 1847-1880 (Accession 1912-011); 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 1912-011 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on the following dates (with date span of files): December 10, 1912 (1847-1935).

The record books in accesion 2011-028 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on October 4, 2010.

The probate files in accession 2011-029 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on October 4, 2010; January 3, 2011; June 29, 2011; September 28, 2011.

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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 1912-011 are represented in this index.

Probate Files: The History and Genealogy reference staff has access to an index for the probate files in accession 2011-029.

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