Help with searching probate filings

[Kyle B.]

So I went to the Clerk's office at the county courthouse to look through the probate filings. When I asked to do this, I was told I could only look through filings if I provided them with a name, which I wasn't able to do because I didn't plan to look at one specific case.

Do I have the ability to look through any file randomly or is it restricted to what they told me? Or could I ask for all the probates filed in the last say six months (pick an arbitrary time frame), and they will have to give me access to these?

This is my first time doing this, so hoping to learn some tricks of the trade from someone who has successful gotten probate leads from the county. What is a good way to explain what I'm trying to do so whatever person I'm talking with is able to assist/accomodate me?

Thanks!

[Rick H.]

If you remember that the clerk of the court's job is to archive filings, your assignment is easier if you remember that they aren't there to provide lists, per se.

It's fairly easy if you pick a starting point and work backwards. Most probate courts display recent filings publicly. It may be a clipboard with face pages of petitions filed during the last month or such. Skim through these filings to get familiarized with them. Pick one and ask the clerk how to to review or "preview" the actual case file.

Once retrieved, you'll see a pattern to how documents are filed, usually oldest on the bottom. Learn how to search efficiently for the info you need and want: the assets (real estate), the petitioner (person filing), the Will (if any), and contact info for the personal rep and heirs.

Most people burn out after a short time doing this task. That's good because the harder the info is to obtain, the fewer who will possess it and use it.