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Florida. Circuit Court (14th Circuit : Washington County)
Title, Dates:
Probate records, 1857-1946.
Amount:
4.00 microfilm reel 35 mm.
Medium Included:
Organization/Arrangement:
By record type.
Restrictions:
Terms Governing Use:
Biographical/Historical:
Washington County was created by an act of the Legislative Council on December 9, 1825 (Territorial Laws, 4th session). It was formed from parts of Jackson and Walton Counties. The boundaries of Washington County have been altered many times since then. The county line between Washington and Jackson Counties was altered slightly throughout the 1830s and again in 1893 (Laws, Ch. 4236). In 1838, Calhoun County was created in part from southeast Washington County (Territorial Laws, 16th session, no. 8). The line between Washington and Calhoun Counties was altered slightly several times in the late 1800s, including in 1873 (Laws, Ch. 1950). In 1913, Bay County was created from the southern portion of Washington County (Laws, Ch. 6505). The Clerk of the Circuit Court in each county serves as the official custodian of deed, marriage, and probate records.
Summary:
This series consists of a microfilm copy of the probate records of Washington County, Florida, from 1857 to 1946. The series includes records of estates (1857-1866), a probate record book (1866-1885), will records (ca. 1909-1945), and guardianship records (1922-1946). Probate is the transfer of property title and rights and of legal responsibility for payment of taxes or of custody from the deceased to another party, from a person judged incompetent or insane, or from a minor to an appointed guardian. Probate records document the administration and distribution of an individual's estate after death.
The record of estates and probate record book are similar in content. They contain a variety of probate court records, including estate inventories and appraisals, guardianship records, and administration petitions, orders and bonds. The record of estates book is indexed.
A will is a legal instrument by which people declare how they wish their property or estate to be disposed of after their death. Wills usually contain direct statements regarding the relationships between the deceased and his family and denote ownership of specific property and goods. The record of wills contains copies of wills, orders admitting wills to probate, and other related records. It is indexed.
The need for a guardian usually occurs when a decedent is survived by minor children who by law are not considered capable of managing their own life. Thus the court appoints a guardian. The guardianship record book includes applications for guardianship, letters of guardianship, orders appointing guardians, and guardianship oaths and bonds. The book contains an index.
Finding Aids:
Microfilm listing available.
Additional Physical Form:
Reproduction Note:
Microfilm.
Location of Originals/Duplicates:
Circuit Court, Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Washington County. Office of the Clerk. Chipley, Florida.
Associated Materials:
Language Notes:
Ownership/Custodial History:
Publication Note:
General Note:
Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields:
Probate records Florida --Washington County Guardian and ward Florida --Washington County Insurance, Surety and fidelity Florida Guardianship
Probate records. aat Wills. aat Estate inventories. aat
Washington County (Fla.)
for detailed listing.