Oregon Historical County Records Guide
Washington County Records Inventory
Probate Case Files
1842-[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.
Washington County joined the Oregon Judicial Information Network (OJIN) in 1987. A predecessor database began in 1983.
Records at the Oregon State Archives:
Probate Case Files, no. 1-2616, 1842-1921 (44 cu.ft.); no. 2617-3658, 1921-1929 (29.50 cu.ft.);
Probate Index, 1848-n.d. (1 volume);
T.R. Cornelius Insolvent Claims [Record], 1894 (1 volume);
Search for 1842-1921 Washington County probate case files in Oregon Historical Records Index.
Records at the Washington County Justice Services Building, Records Vault:
[Index to Probate Case Files], vol. 1-2, ca.1848-1987 (1 reel of microfilm).
Records at the Washington County Justice Services Building, Civil Records Room:
Probate Index, vol. 1-2, 1871-1987 (2 volumes).
Records at the Washington County Courthouse, Basement Probate Office B7:
[Open Probate Case Files], no. G572-9048, 1972-1981 (24 cu.ft.); no. 82.0131-07.0535, 1982-present (120 cu.ft.).
Records at the Washington County Courthouse, Basement Probate Office B7, Break Room:
NC [Name Change Probate Case Files], no. C05.0001NC-C07.0310NC, 2005-present (9 cu.ft.);
SE [Small Estate Case Files], no. C05.0001SE-C05.0221SE, 2005 (2 cu.ft.);
Small Estates [Case Files], no. C06.0001SE-C07.0187SE, 2006-present (6 cu.ft.).
Records at the Washington County Courthouse, Basement Closed Probate Room:
Closed Probate [Case Files-includes small estate cases], no. 97.001-04.0679, 1997-2004 (187 cu.ft.);
[Closed Probate Case Files-includes small estate cases], no. 05.0001-07.0054 (40 cu.ft.);
NC [Name Change Probate Case Files], no. C03.0001NC-C04.0335NC, 2003-2004 (6 cu.ft.);
SE [Small Estate Case Files], no. C03.001SE-C04.0225SE, 2003-2004 (4 cu.ft.);
Small Estates [Case Files], no. C06.0001SE-C07.0187SE, 2006-present (6 cu.ft.).
Records at the Walnut Street Center Building, Second Floor Circuit Court Archives:
Probate [Case Files], no. 82.001-96.818, 1982-1996 (310 cu.ft.);
Probate Court Index to Box 1 [Case File Index], vol. 1, ca.1842-ca.1900 (1 volume);
Probate Files [Case], 1930-1981 (290 cu.ft.);
SE [Small Estate Case Files], no. SE1-SE1054, 1974-1987 (6.50 cu.ft.); no. SE87.1055-SE87.1137, 1987 (.50 cu.ft.); no. C88.0001SE-C02.0217SE, 1988-2002 (25 cu.ft.).
Records at the Walnut Street Center Complex, Building E, County Historical Records Vault:
Cases Pending County Court [Case File Index-includes probate cases], ca.1842-ca.1900 (1 volume).
Records at the Washington County Historical Museum:
Index to Book 1 Probate Records [Washington County-typescript copy-Genealogical Forum of Portland], ca.1860-ca.1910 (1 volume);
Washington County, Oregon Probate Index: Book 1 [Abstract-Genealogical Forum of Oregon], ca.1860-ca.1910 (1 volume).