Waterloo 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.
Indexes - 1853 to 1961
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. Use the file number in the GRANT column of the index.
- 1853-1930: Use the file number in the GRANT column.
- NOTE: In 1858, the Court stopped at #184 (Old Series) and restarted at #1 (New Series) again. Also note that both series are filmed together on microfilms GS 1, reels 375 and 376.
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 | 1853-1961 | GS 2, Reel 197 |
Registers - 1853 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 | Year(s) | Archives of Ontario Microfilm Reference Number |
|---|---|---|
| Vol. A | 1853-1871 | GS 2, Reel 197 |
| Vol. B | 1871-1876 | GS 2, Reel 198 |
| Vol. C | 1876-1881 | GS 2, Reel 199 |
| Vol. D | 1881-1884 | GS 2, Reel 200 |
| Vol. E | 1884-1888 | GS 2, Reel 201 |
| Vol. F | 1888-1891 | GS 2, Reel 202 |
| Vol. G | 1891-1894 | GS 2, Reel 203 |
| Vol. H | 1894-1896 | GS 2, Reel 204 |
| Vol. I | 1896-1899 | GS 2, Reel 205 |
| Vol. J | 1899-1902 | GS 2, Reel 206 |
Estate Files - 1853 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1-61 | 1853-1855 | GS 1, Reel 375 |
| 61-184 plus retakes | 1855-1861 | GS 1, Reel 376 |
| 107-232 | 1861-1864 | GS 1, Reel 377 |
| 233-345 | 1864-1866 | GS 1, Reel 378 |
| 346-476 | 1866-1868 | GS 1, Reel 379 |
| 477-592 | 1868-1871 | GS 1, Reel 380 |
| 593-709 | 1871-1872 | GS 1, Reel 381 |
| 710-833 | 1872-1874 | GS 1, Reel 382 |
| 834-962 | 1874-1876 | GS 1, Reel 383 |
| 963-1093 | 1876-1878 | GS 1, Reel 384 |
| 1094-1209 | 1878-1879 | GS 1, Reel 385 |
| 1209-1327 | 1879-1881 | GS 1, Reel 386 |
| 1328-1432 | 1881-1882 | GS 1, Reel 387 |
| 1432-1550 | 1882-1883 | GS 1, Reel 388 |
| 1551-1672 | 1883-1884 | GS 1, Reel 389 |
| 1673-1794 | 1884-1886 | GS 1, Reel 390 |
| 1795-1908 | 1886-1887 | GS 1, Reel 391 |
| 1909-2025 | 1887-1888 | GS 1, Reel 392 |
| 2026-2132 | 1888-1889 | GS 1, Reel 393 |
| 2133-2235 | 1889 | GS 1, Reel 394 |
| 2236-2349 | 1889-1891 | GS 1, Reel 395 |
| 2350-2457 | 1891 | GS 1, Reel 396 |
| 2458-2562 | 1891-1892 | GS 1, Reel 397 |
| 2563-2663 | 1892-1893 | GS 1, Reel 398 |
| 2664-2761 | 1893-1894 | GS 1, Reel 399 |
| 2762-2838 | 1894 | GS 1, Reel 400 |
| 2839-2939 | 1894-1895 | GS 1, Reel 401 |
| 2940-3035 | 1895-1896 | GS 1, Reel 402 |
| 3036-3138 | 1896 | GS 1, Reel 403 |
| 3139-3241 | 1896-1897 | GS 1, Reel 404 |
| 3242-3342 | 1897-1898 | GS 1, Reel 405 |
| 3343-3442 | 1898 | GS 1, Reel 406 |
| 3443-3540 | 1898-1899 | GS 1, Reel 407 |
| 3541-3637 | 1899-1900 | GS 1, Reel 408 |
| 3638-3705, 3724 | 1900 | MS 1516 |
| 3706-3845 | 1900-1901 | MS 1588 |
| 4010-4129 | 1902-1903 | MS 1590 |
| 4130-4249 (missing 4130) | 1903-1904 | MS 1591 |
| 4250-4365 | 1904-1905 | MS 1592 |
| 4366-4482 | 1905 | MS 1593 |
| 4483-4606 | 1905-1906 | MS 1594 |
| 4607-4732 | 1906-1907 | MS 1595 |
| 4733-4855 | 1907-1908 | MS 1596 |
| 4856-4974 | 1908 | MS 1597 |
| 4975-5094 | 1908-1909 | MS 1598 |
| 5095-5183 | 1909 | MS 1599 |
| 5184-5306 | 1909-1910 | MS 1600 |
| 5307-5417 | 1910-1911 | MS 1601 |
| 5418-5533 | 1911 | MS 1602 |
| 5534-5646 | 1911-1912 | MS 1603 |
| 5647-5759 | 1912 | MS 1604 |
| 5760-5871 | 1912-1913 | MS 1605 |
| 5872-5984 | 1913 | MS 1606 |
| 5985-6091 | 1913-1914 | MS 1607 |
| 6092-6206 | 1914 | MS 1608 |
| 6207-6312 | 1914-1915 | MS 1609 |
| 6313-6420 | 1915 | MS 1610 |
| 6421-6536 | 1915-1916 | MS 1611 |
| 6537-6652 | 1916 | MS 1612 |
| 6653-6769 | 1916-1917 | MS 1613 |
| 6770-6883 | 1917 | MS 1614 |
| 6884-6993 | 1917-1918 | MS 1615 |
| 6994-7106 | 1918 | MS 1616 |
| 7107-7217 (missing 7123) | 1918 | MS 1617 |
| 7218-7334 | 1918-1919 | MS 1618 |
| 7335-7450 (missing 7419) | 1919 | MS 1619 |
| 7451-7569 | 1919-1920 | MS 1620 |
| 7570-7675 | 1920 | MS 1621 |
| 7676-7784 | 1920-1921 | MS 1622 |
| 7785-7889 | 1921 | MS 1623 |
| 7890-8004 | 1921-1922 | MS 1624 |
| 8005-8117 | 1922 | MS 1625 |
| 8118-8230 | 1922-1923 | MS 1626 |
| 8231-8344 | 1923 | MS 1627 |
| 8345-8456 | 1923 | MS 1628 |
| 8457-8566 | 1923-1924 | MS 1629 |
| 8567-8667 | 1924 | MS 1630 |
| 8668-8774 | 1924 | MS 1631 |
| 8775-8887 | 1924-1925 | MS 1632 |
| 8888-8997 | 1925 | MS 1633 |
| 8998-9107 | 1925-1926 | MS 1634 |
| 9108-9216 | 1926 | MS 1635 |
| 9217-9321 | 1926 | MS 1636 |
| 9322-9430 | 1926-1927 | MS 1637 |
| 9431-9529 | 1927 | MS 1638 |
| 9530-9634 | 1927 | MS 1506 |
| 9635-9735 | 1927-1928 | MS 1507 |
| 9736-9840 | 1928 | MS 1508 |
| 9841-9950 | 1928 | MS 1509 |
| 9951-10061 | 1928-1929 | MS 1510 |
| 10062-10171 | 1929 | MS 1511 |
| 10172-10258 | 1929 | MS 1512 |
| 10259-10365 | 1929-1930 | MS 1513 |
| 10366-10473 | 1930 | MS 1514 |
| 10474-10586 | 1930 | MS 1515 |
| 10587-10620 | 1930 | MS 1516 |
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
20 Weber Street East
Kitchener, Ontario
N2H 1C3
519-741-3200