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.
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.
Go to Estate Files to determine what microfilm to order to see the estate file.
Indexes | Year(s) | Archives of Ontario Microfilm Reference Number |
---|---|---|
Index | 1851-1966 | GS 2, Reel 67 |
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 |
---|---|---|
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 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 |
---|---|---|
[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 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
21 Seventh Street, 1st Floor
Chatham, Ontario
N7M 4K1
519-352-7740