I'm new at this and have a question that I just can't seem to find the answer to (maybe I'm just not looking in the right place). How do I obtain an ancestor's will? They resided and died in Orange County (Goshen/Middletown to be exact). I've read about the different courts, etc. but to tell you the truth, the more I read, the more confused I get. Do I go to the court house in Goshen? Is there a form I have to fill out? Will I have to document my relationship to the person? Can I obtain it through the mail or ask for it over the phone? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Kim (Gates) Altmann

Dear Kim, If a person died in Orange County prior to 1787 and if a will was filed and probated, it would have been done in either 1.) Albany (see the book Colander of Wills by Fernow) and I believe the originals are in the NYS archives 2.) NYC (the Orange and Ulster County wills have been abstracted and form part one of the OCGS publication "Early Orange County Wills" Copies of originals can be order from NYC 3.) Some were filed in Kingston, as much of the eastern part of Orange County was part of Ulster County prior to 1798. The originals are mostly likely only on microfilm. If the person died and the will was probated after 1787, it will most likely be found in the Surrogates Court in Goshen. The wills filed between 1787 and 1830 have been abstracted and form part two of OCGS publication "Early Orange County Wills" "EARLY ORANGE COUNTY WILLS" can be ordered from: Orange County Genealogical Society Attention: Orders 101 Main Street Goshen NY 10924 The cost is $30.00 postpaid book rate -- add $3 for priority mail. Hope all this helps. Dan Burrows