RG004:127, Sherman Probate Court

Inventory of Records

Finding aid prepared by Connecticut State Library staff.

Copyright © 2012 by the Connecticut State Library

Historical Note

Sherman, Fairfield County, Town established in October 1802, Parent Town: New Fairfield

The Sherman Probate District was constituted June 4, 1846, from the New Milford Probate District. The Sherman Probate District merged with the New Fairfield Probate District on January 8, 2003 to create a single enlarged New Fairfield Probate District. The New Fairfield Probate District merged with the Brookfield and New Milford Probate Districts on January 5, 2011 to create the Housatonic Probate District which serves the municipalities of Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford, and Sherman.

Town of Sherman, Probate District chronology:

October 1802 - June 3, 1846, New Milford District
June 4, 1846 - January 7, 2003, Sherman District
January 8, 2003 - January 4, 2011, New Fairfield District
January 5, 2011 - Present, Housatonic District

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

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Scope and Content

Probate record books, None. Contact the probate court to access original record books. See Alternative Form Available note below.

Probate files, 1815-1976. Probate files may consist of estates, conservatorships, guardianships, commitments, and insolvencies. See Alternative Form Available note below.

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Arrangement

Probate files are arranged by accession and alphabetically therein.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

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

Accession 2009-019, Probate files, 1935-1976, 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, 3, 4, and 6, 1846-1931; probate files, 1846-1880 (Accession 1911-009); 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. Volumes 25-26, 31, 34, and 36 were not filmed.

Provenance

The probate files in accession 1911-009 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on the following dates (with date span of files): December 2, 1911 (1815-1910); March 21, 1930 ( -1925); November 3, 1933 (1919-1933); December 18, 1933 (1917-1933); March 1, 1945 (1933-1944); March 17, 1948 (1937-1946). They have been interfiled into one alphabetical sequence.

The probate files in accession 2009-019 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on March 5, 2009.

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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 1911-009 are represented in this index.

Probate Files: The History and Genealogy reference staff has access to an index for the probate files in accession 2009-019.

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