RG 004:135, Stamford Probate Court

Inventory of Records

Finding aid prepared by Connecticut State Library staff.

Copyright © 2013 by the Connecticut State Library

Historical Note

Stamford, Fairfield County, Town settled in 1641 under Colony of New Haven Jurisdiction; named 1642; united with Colony of Connecticut October 1662; City incorporated January 1893; Town and City of Stamford consolidated April 15, 1949

Stamford Probate District was constituted May session 1728 from the Fairfield Probate District. The Stamford Probate District serves the municipality of Stamford. It also served the following municipalities at various times: Darien, May 1820 - May 17, 1921; Greenwich, May 1728 - July 3, 1853; New Canaan, May 1801 - May 1802; Ridgefield, May 1728 - October 1746.

City of Stamford, Probate District chronology:

1640 - May 1666, New Haven Colony Jurisdiction
May 1666 - May 1728, Fairfield County Court & District (Wills are recorded in Stamford town records 1646-1695)
May 1728 - Present, Stamford 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, 1700-1954. Probate files may consist of estates, conservatorships, guardianships, commitments, and insolvencies. See Alternative Form Available note below.

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Arrangement

Probate files in accessions T003119 and 1941-005 are arranged alphabetically. Probate files in accession 2012-051 are arranged by year and therein alphabetically.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

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

Accessions T003119 Probate files, 1700-1936, and 2012-051 Probate files, 1937-1954, 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 1-42, 45-49, 52-62, 64-65, 67-72, 74-82, 1728-1916, 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 43, 44, 50, 51, 63, 66, and 73 were not filmed.

Provenance

The probate files in accession 1941-005 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on June 26, 1941.

The probate files in accession 2012-051 were transferred to the Connecticut State Library on June 18, July 9, August 6, and August 27, 2012.

It is not known when the probate files in accession T003119 were transferred tot he Connecticut State Library.

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Other Finding Aid

Probate Files: The History and Genealogy reference staff has access to an index for the probate files in accession T003119 and 2012-051.

Manuscript abstract of Stamford Probate Records 1729-1848, by Spencer Mead (974.62 qSt2m)

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