Oregon Historical County Records Guide

Benton County Records Inventory

Probate Case Files

1850-[ongoing]

Series documents actions taken on probate cases brought before the county, district, or circuit court for settlement. Records include wills, receipts, claims, vouchers, petitions to sell, notices of annual accounting, final estate accounting reports, appraiser's affidavits, bills of sale, inventories, fee bills, appraisals, administrator and appointment certificates, and appraiser oaths. Over the years probate jurisdiction has been transferred from the county court to the circuit court in most counties. However, the county courts in Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Sherman, and Wheeler Counties continue to hear probate cases. Portions of these records may be restricted.

Records at the Oregon State Archives:
Index to Estates, vol. 1-2, 1850-1929 (2 volumes);
Probate Case Files, no. 1-806, 1850-1901 (14 cu.ft.);
Search for 1850-1898 Benton County probate case files in Oregon Historical Records Index.

Records at the Benton County Courthouse, Room 101:
[Open Probate Case Files], no. PB9517-12.40091, 1970-present (15 cu.ft.).

Records at the Benton County Courthouse, Room 106:
Indexes [Probate Case Files and Journals], ca.1880-1984 (.50 inch of microfiche);
Probate [Case Files], no. 807-8657, 1898-1986 (56 inches of microfiche);
[Small Estates Case Files], no. SE1-SE368, 1973-1991 (.50 inch microfiche).

Records at the Benton County Courthouse, Room 104/106 Vault:
[Probate Case Files-includes small estates], no. 01.40000-12.40092, 2001-present (50 cu.ft.).

Records at the Benton County Courthouse, Clerk's Archive Vault:
Probate Files [Case], no. 807-8657, 1898-1986 (12 feet of microfilm jackets);
Probate Files [Small Estate Cases], no. SE1-SE368, 1973-1991 (.50 inch of microfilm jackets).

Records at the Benton County Records Center:
Index to Probate Court Records and Files [Probate Case Files and Journals], vol. 1, ca.1893-ca.1978 (1 volume);
[Probate Case Files], no. 97.40000-00.04191, 1997-2000 (19 cu.ft.);
[Probate Index], ca.1860-1984 (1 inch of microfiche jackets).

Records at the Benton County Records Center, Trial Court Storage Room:
[Probate Case Files], no. 87.0000-96.40190, 1987-1996 (39 cu.ft.);
Small Estates [Case Files], no. SE370-SE479, 1991-1993 (.75 cu.ft.).