WATONWAN COUNTY: PROBATE COURT:

This microfilm reproduces volumes containing probate court final decrees of distribution of estates for Watonwan County for the years 1870-1977. The records consist of two subseries: final decrees, 1886-1976 (16 volumes); and miscellaneous orders, 1870-1977 (6 volumes). The records in each subseries are arranged in roughly chronological order. The dates listed are generally those on which the decrees and orders were issued by the probate judges.

The volumes in the final decrees subseries include mostly final decrees, although some other orders and decrees issued by the probate court may be present. Some final decrees volumes are divided into two sections, identified for filming purposes as "Section A" and "Section B" in the roll contents list (roll 1) or volume list (subsequent rolls) that follows this description and on the microfilm. The volumes in the miscellaneous orders subseries comprise a variety of documents created as actions were taken by the court, including final decrees. In most instances, entire volumes in both subseries have been microfilmed; occasionally, however, only sections containing final decrees in volumes of otherwise nonarchival records have been filmed.

All but three of the final decrees volumes and all but one of the miscellaneous orders volumes include personal name indexes, primarily to names of decedents. Indexes that include citations to pages containing nonarchival documents that were not microfilmed are identified as such on the microfilm.

Final decrees of distribution record data on a decedent's estate and its distribution to his or her heirs and/or legatees. They generally include the following information: the name of the decedent; the date of the court hearing; the name of the attorney representing the estate; a statement that all required legal and administrative procedures have been carried out (early volumes may give the name and date of the publication containing the notice of the court hearing); the decedent's date of death and residence and whether he/she died testate or intestate (with or without a will); itemizations of the major personal property and of the homestead and/or other real property to be distributed; the names of the heirs and/or legatees and their relationship to the decedent; the terms of the distribution of the itemized personal and real property among the heirs/legatees, sometimes including excerpts or quotations from the decedent's will; and the date of the decree.

Some volumes may also include three other types of final decrees, recorded intermittently throughout the volume or in separate sections. Final decrees (summary proceedings) document the distribution of less complicated estates, in which each heir often is given a designated fractional portion of the decedent's real and/or personal property. The summary proceedings give much the same information as the decrees for more complicated estates; however, they tend to merely list the heirs who are entitled to portions of the estate, rather than itemizing property and its distribution. Orders for distribution (insolvent estates) document the distribution of monetary assets to creditors of estates against which claims exceed assets. Decrees for exempt estates document the immediate distribution of estates, or designated portions thereof, that have been determined to be exempt from the payment of debt. Summary proceedings, distribution orders for insolvent estates, and decrees for exempt estates are identified in the roll contents or volume list only when they constitute a distinct unit within a volume, not when they are interspersed throughout.

Related materials: Some of the miscellaneous orders volumes include wills interspersed among the final decrees. Several other kinds of probate documents also may be present among the final decrees in some of the microfilmed volumes. These are transitory administrative documents that usually pertain to transfer of real property or to various steps in the probate process; the individual probate case files contain a more complete compilation of such documents. The official record of real estate ownership and transfer is maintained by the county recorder.

Each subseries and each volume are preceded on the microfilm by an introductory "flash" target. A running target beneath each film frame gives the title and producer of the microfilm and the frame number.

Blank pages and some pages containing nonarchival records have not been filmed.

When citing materials from this microfilm, include the following information: Document title and date; volume title, number/letter, dates, and page number(s); microfilm roll and frame numbers. Watonwan County. Probate Court. Final Decrees of Distribution. Microfilm edition. Minnesota Historical Society.

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Most volumes include a personal name index, primarily to names of decedents.

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Watonwan County (Minn.). Probate Court. Final Decrees of Distribution. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Microfilm Production:

Saint Paul, MN : Minnesota Historical Society, 1996.

Available for sale or interlibrary loan from the Minnesota Historical Society.

Location of Originals:

The originals (10.5 cubic feet) were disposed of after microfilming.

Accession Information:

Accession numbers: 985-115; 989-204

Processing Information:

Catalog ID number: 990017096050104294

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Decedents' estates -- Minnesota -- Watonwan County.

Document Types:

Microforms.

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