Government of Ontario

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Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery




Microfilm Interloan Service

Kent County Surrogate Court Records


Surrogate Court Records Available on Interloan

To View the Microfilm


Use the listings below to identify the reel of microfilm that contains the information that you need. You may then:

  • Consult the appropriate reel at our reading room 134 Ian Macdonald Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M7A 2C5

or

  • Borrow the reel through the Interlibrary Loan Department of your public library. Quote GS 1, GS 2 or MS 887 and the appropriate reel #. These reels cannot leave the borrowing library, so make sure to request them from a library that has a microfilm reader.

or

  • Purchase the appropriate microfilm reel directly from the Archives of Ontario. Quote GS 1, GS 2 or MS 887 and the appropriate reel #. For purchasing details, write the Archives of Ontario, 134 Ian Macdonald Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M7A 2C5 (put "Attention: Customer Services - Micrographics" on the envelope), telephone 416-327-1600 (call toll-free 1-800-668-9933 in Ontario only), or email reference@ontario.ca. For pricing information consult Customer Service Guide 105: Reproduction Services and Fees - Word, PDF.

Indexes - 1851 to 1966


The Indexes are organized by surname initial, then by the date that the deceased's estate was dispersed. Most indexes will provide the number of the deceased's estate file. However, some indexes will only list the register and page number where the estate file number is recorded (in these cases, you must next order the appropriate register for the date when the deceased's estate was probated).

In the table below, determine the reel of microfilm that you need and note the Microfilm Reference code. Please note that many estates were not dispersed until the spouse had died. Once you have the microfilm, search for the name alphabetically, then record the estate file number.

  • 1851 to 1920: Use the file number that appears in the NCB (non-contentious business) column. For 1851-1858 you may wish to consult RG 22 Appendix A25 instead of the index.

  • 1921 to 1952: Use the File Number and year in the GRANT column (e.g. "187-45" means Estate File 187 for 1945).

  • NOTE: In 1872, the Court stopped at #457 (Old Series) and restarted at #1 (New Series) again.

Go to Estate Files to determine what microfilm to order to see the estate file.

Indexes - 1851 to 1966

Indexes Year(s) Archives of Ontario Microfilm Reference Number
Index 1851-1966 GS 2, Reel 67

Registers - 1876 to 1902


The registers, also known as Probate and Administration books, contain the courthouse's copy of the grants of Letters of Probate (for estates with wills) and of Administration (for estates without wills). Information about registers is normally only included in this list if they serve as the only index to the estate file or if they contain the only copy of the wills.

In the table below, identify the volume that covers the time period relevant to your search and note the Microfilm Reference code. Once you have received the microfilm, look up the relevant entry using the volume and page number found in the index.

Registers - 1876 to 1902

Registers Year(s) Archives of Ontario Microfilm Reference Number
Vol. 2 1876-1888 GS 1, Reel 238
Vol. 3-4 1888-1899 GS 1, Reel 239
Vol. 5 1899-1902 GS 1, Reel 240


Estate Files - 1851 to 1930


Estate files contain all the documents needed to grant Letters Probate or Letters of Administration, including the petition for probate or administration, the original signed Will, oaths of executors or administrators, tally of assets, and related evidence.

In the table below, identify the microfilm which covers the time period and estate file number relevant to your search. Use the indexes to determine the estate file number. Order the appropriate microfilm, citing the Microfilm Reference code. Once you have the microfilm, look for the estate file number, which usually appears at the beginning of each file on the docket wrapper, and may appear elsewhere throughout the file.

Estate Files - 1887 to 1931

Estate Files Year(s) Archives of Ontario Microfilm Reference Number
[Old Series] 1-172 1851-1861 GS 1, Reel 211
173-267 1861-1865 GS 1, Reel 212
268-396 1865-1870 GS 1, Reel 213
397-457 1870-1872 GS 2, Reel 67
[New Series] 1-138 1872-1875 GS 1, Reel 215
139-280 1875-1878 GS 1, Reel 216
281-408 1878-1880 GS 1, Reel 217
409-543 1880-1882 GS 1, Reel 218
544-673 1882-1883 GS 1, Reel 219
674-783 1883-1885 GS 1, Reel 220
784-916 1885-1886 GS 1, Reel 221
917-1039 1886-1888 GS 1, Reel 222
1040-1161 1888-1889 GS 1, Reel 223
1162-1287 1889-1890 GS 1, Reel 224
1288-1407 1890-1891 GS 1, Reel 225
1408-1515 1891-1892 GS 1, Reel 226
1516-1611 1892-1893 GS 1, Reel 227
1612-1707 1893-1894 GS 1, Reel 228
1708-1808 1894 GS 1, Reel 229
1809-1909 1895 GS 1, Reel 230
1910-2015 1895-1896 GS 1, Reel 231
2016-2124 1896-1897 GS 1, Reel 232
2125-2226 1897-1898 GS 1, Reel 233
2227-2329 1898-1899 GS 1, Reel 234
2330-2422 1899 GS 1, Reel 235
2423-2534 1899-1900 GS 1, Reel 236
2535-2580 1900 GS 1, Reel 237
2581-2610 1901 MS 887, Reel 834
2611-2776 1901-1902 MS 887, Reel 835
2777-2899 1902-1903 MS 887, Reel 836
2900-3011 1903 MS 887, Reel 837
3012-3127 1903-1904 MS 887, Reel 838
3128-3241 1904-1905 MS 887, Reel 839
3242-3365 1905-1906 MS 887, Reel 840
3366-3486 1906-1907 MS 887, Reel 841
3487-3600 1907 MS 887, Reel 842
3601-3726 1907-1908 MS 887, Reel 843
3727-3853 1908-1909 MS 887, Reel 844
3854-3986 1909-1910 MS 887, Reel 845
3987-4110 1910 MS 887, Reel 846
4111-4203 1910-1911 MS 887, Reel 847
4204-4325 1911-1912 MS 887, Reel 848
4326-4450 1912 MS 887, Reel 849
4451-4577 1912-1913 MS 887, Reel 850
4578-4707 1913 MS 887, Reel 851
4708-4829 1913-1914 MS 887, Reel 852
4830-4956 1914-1915 MS 887, Reel 853
4957-5089 1915-1916 MS 887, Reel 854
5090-5207 1916 MS 887, Reel 855
5208-5334 (5276, 5301, 5314, 5234 missing) 1916-1917 MS 887, Reel 856
5335-5470 1917 MS 887, Reel 857
5471-5579 1917-1918 MS 887, Reel 858
5580-5688 1918 MS 887, Reel 859
5689-5818(except 5729A) 1918-1919 MS 887, Reel 860
5729A 1918-1919 MS 887, Reel 892
5819-5942 1919 MS 887, Reel 861
5943-6068 1919-1920 MS 887, Reel 862
6069-6188 1920-1921 MS 887, Reel 863
#1-13 1921
#14-131 1921 MS 887, Reel 864
#132-250 1921 MS 887, Reel 865
#251-269 1921 MS 887, Reel 866
#1-94 1922
#95-144 1922 MS 887, Reel 867
#145-195 1922 MS 887, Reel 868
#196-252 1922 MS 887, Reel 869
#1-64 1923
#65-166 1923 MS 887, Reel 870
#167-272 1923 MS 887, Reel 871
#1-6 1924
#7-119 1924 MS 887, Reel 872
#120-234 1924 MS 887, Reel 873
#1-2 1925
#3-100 1925 MS 887, Reel 874
#101-199 1925 MS 887, Reel 875
#200-225 1925 MS 887, Reel 876
#1-78 1926
#79-167 1926 MS 887, Reel 877
#168-253 1926 MS 887, Reel 878
#254-281 1926 MS 887, Reel 879
#1-72 1927
#73-166 1927 MS 887, Reel 880
#167-262 1927 MS 887, Reel 881
#1-5 1928
#6-94 1928 MS 887, Reel 882
#95-182 1928 MS 887, Reel 883
#183-257 1928 MS 887, Reel 884
#258-264 1928 MS 887, Reel 885
#1-59 1929
#60-146 1929 MS 887, Reel 886
#147-231 1929 MS 887, Reel 887
#232-308 1929 MS 887, Reel 888
#1-15 1930
#16-96 1930 MS 887, Reel 889
#97-184 1930 MS 887, Reel 890
#185-269 1930 MS 887, Reel 891
#270-276 1930 MS 887, Reel 892

Estate Files - 1931-1970


Estate Files processed between 1931 and 1970 are with the Archives of Ontario; they have not yet been microfilmed. To order a copy of all or part of an estate file please contact us with: the estate file number; year; name of county/district; and name of the deceased. Please include: your name; address; telephone number; and a brief description of what documents you would like copied (eg. the entire file, only the will, etc.). Also, please indicate if you need the copies to be certified.


Archives of Ontario
134 Ian Macdonald Blvd.
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 2C5
reference@ontario.ca

For details on photocopy charges, please see our Customer Service Guide 105: Reproduction Services and Fees - Word, PDF .

Estate files - after 1970


The estate files processed after 1970 have not yet been transferred to the Archives of Ontario. You must contact the courthouse listed below which originally dealt with that court matter.


Superior Court of Justice - Estates Division
21 Seventh Street, 1st Floor
Chatham, Ontario
N7M 4K1
519-352-7740

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