Will Book Record Request

For this research service, Library Staff will send you one individual's Will Book Record that has been indexed by FamilySearch.org.

Follow these steps:

1. Search for your individual in the FamilySearch.org index: Minnesota Will Records, 1849-1985
2. Make a note of the individual's full name as given on Family Search, Event Place ( county of death), Source Reference (for example: "Will Records Volume A, 1883-1907"), image number if given, and year and page number if given.
3. Input the information onto this form and submit.

Price
$5.00

MNHS Members receive 10% discount at checkout

Processing fee
The price of this service includes a non-refundable processing fee of $5. This is not an additional charge; however, if your order is cancelled for any reason, the Minnesota Historical Society will retain that amount.

Turnaround time
Research is usually completed and sent within 30 business days.

About this research service
Will Books consist of copies or transcriptions of the complete texts of wills probated by the courts.

Will books do not contain original wills, are not the official records, and cannot be used to create certified copies. Original wills are are found in probate case files, and certified copies can be obtained from county probate courts.

We have Will Books for most* Minnesota counties, though the dates covered by the books varies by individual county. The earliest wills date from 1849 and the most recent are from the mid-1980s

* If you are interested in obtaining a will filed in Hennepin (including Minneapolis), Marshall, or St. Louis (including Duluth) counties, please contact that county’s court records or court administration department.

For more information:

Court Records Research Guide

Family History Overview Research Guide