Regarding the following will posted to the list: THE WILL OF ALEXANDER FARIS Maury County, Tennessee Dated 8 May 1820, Recorded 9 January 1824 <snip> I would assume that probate is handled similarly in all states, with some differences I am sure. What you need to do is to write for the full Probate record and not the will. That would include everything included in the excutorship of the will. In that information, you may be able to tell the relationships based on the way the estate was distributed. I found the children of a deceased daughter, my ancestor, listed in the accounting, altho they were not listed in the will, as they each received exactly 1/4 of the amount that the children received. The will had stipulated that if any of the children died, their share was to go to their heirs. I would rather find an administration of an estate than a will, so I never ask for a will. I ask for the Probate from the county or the state, depending on how they are organized. In SC, they are in Box # package#. If cost is a issue, you might ask that they NOT copy the assessment and listing of the items in the estate, if that was done. It is not done as often when a will is left as in an administration of an intestate estate, but often, the will stipulates that things be sold and divided among the heirs. Good luck. Billie Jones A desc. of another Farris line.