Series 5142
Weber County (Utah). Probate Court Probate minute books
Dates: i 1883-1896.
3 microfilm reels
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
An agency history is available.
Scope and Content
This series is made up of minute books in which are recorded the official acts and proceedings of the Weber County Probate Court (which was eliminated at statehood in 1896) while sitting in Ogden, Weber County, Utah. These records were created and maintained by the court clerk, who was required by statute to enter "all orders and decrees of the court or judge...at length in the record books of the court provided and kept for that purpose" (Compiled Laws of Utah, 1888, volume 2, part 11, chapter 12, section 4286, page 537).
Originated by the Weber County Probate Court during the territorial period, entries in the minute books begin in February 1883. A typical probate or guardianship case spans multiple dates. Copies of court orders and decrees, discharges, petitions, and notices are typical. Most cases involve the estates of deceased persons but cases involving commitment to the state mental hospital and adoption are included throughout the entire series. Entries in all volumes are handwritten.
Arrangement
Chronological by date of court session
Research Note
Probate minute books are a daily record of what documents were filed in court on a particular day. No longer produced, probate minute books provide useful information both for researchers seeking socioeconomic data on households and those seeking biographical or family history data such as information about the estate, the deceased, and the heirs. Access to the minute books is easiest when done in conjunction with the register of actions, which provides the date of each action. Occasionally the microfilmer repeats filming the final few pages filmed at the end of one reel again at the beginning of the next reel, resulting in a slight overlap to ensure that no pages were missed.
Related Records
Probate record books from the District Court (Second District : Weber County), Series 6405, document procedings in probate matters.
Probate case files from the District Court (Second District : Weber County), Series 6874, contain documents filed in probate cases.
Probate Court index from the District Court (Second District : Weber County), Series 21023, records the names of parties in probate actions and provides assigned estate numbers for cases 1-810.
Custody History
The probate minute books, created by the Weber County Probate Court, were transferred at statehood (January 1896) to the newly created district court, which assumed jurisdiction for probate cases. The Weber County Clerk was constitutionally designated as ex-officio clerk of Second District Court in and for Weber County. The minute books subsequently were transferred to the Utah State Archives.
Access Restrictions
This series is classified as Public: Judicial records are public unless restricted under rules of civil procedure (UCA 63G-2-301-[1][f[). Included are custody proceedings, guardianship files, minutes, and probate records..
Preferred Citation
Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.
Processing Note
The Utah Judicial Council has determined that minutes are permanent records. Microfilm copies of the minute books were produced in 1983 by the Utah State Archives. The film copies were archivally processed by W. Glen Fairclough, Jr., in June 2001.
Finding Aids
Indexes: An alphabetical name index appears at the front of most volumes. Other: A research guide entitled "Judicial/Court Records at the Utah State Archives" is available for patron use.
Indexing Terms
- Probate records—Utah—Weber County.
- Court records—Utah—Weber County.
Page Last Updated October 18, 2012.