Thunder Bay District 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
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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 - 1885 to 1931
The NCB Book acts as an index for estate files from 1885 to 1931. Indexes are organized by surname initial, then by the date that the deceased's estate was dispersed. Check the index at the beginning of the reel for the page number in the NCB book following. The application number is also the estate file number. Applications were re-numbered each year during the periods 1904-1920 and 1929-1942; this second application number appears below or beside the first. Ignore this second (lower) number.
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.
- 1932-1952: the Archives has not received the Surrogate Court Index after File #2452. For the File Number, contact the Superior Court of Justice in Thunder Bay.
Go to Estate Files to determine what microfilm to order to see the estate file.
| Indexes | Year(s) | Archives of Ontario Microfilm Reference Number |
|---|---|---|
| NCB Book no. 1 | 1885 - 1931 | MS 7568 |
Registers - 1885 to 1932
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 | Year(s) | Archives of Ontario Microfilm Reference Number |
|---|---|---|
| Register (Including Index) | 1885-1917 | MS 1793 |
| Register (Including Index) | 1917-1927 | MS 1794 |
| Register (Including Index) | 1927-1932 | MS 1795 |
Estate Files - 1885 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 | Year(s) | Archives of Ontario Microfilm Reference Number |
|---|---|---|
| 1-149 | 1885-1900 | MS 1451 |
| 150-282 | 1900-1906 | MS 1452 |
| 286-411 | 1906-1907 | MS 1453 |
| 412-537 | 1907-1911 | MS 1454 |
| 538-662 | 1911-1913 | MS 1455 |
| 663-784 | 1913-1914 | MS 1456 |
| 785-913 | 1914-1916 | MS 1457 |
| 914-1033 | 1916-1918 | MS 1458 |
| 1034-1174 | 1918-1919 | MS 1459 |
| 1175-1313 | 1919-1920 | MS 1468 |
| 1314-1445 | 1920-1922 | MS 1469 |
| 1446-1589 | 1922-1923 | MS 1470 |
| 1590-1735 | 1923-1925 | MS 1471 |
| 1736-1882 | 1925-1926 | MS 1472 |
| 1883-2026 | 1926-1928 | MS 1473 |
| 2027-2156 | 1928-1929 | MS 1474 |
| 2157-2279 | 1929-1930 | MS 1475 |
| 2280-2379 | 1930 | MS 1476 |
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 .
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
277 Camelot Street, Main Floor
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7C 4Z2
807-343-2700