>All, > > An often overlooks source of factual genealogical and family >history information is probate records. Probate records, found at the county >courthouse where they were filed, include wills, material and money >inventories, estate settlements, guardianship of minors, and >insanity/incompetence cases. These last may be sealed, and in some states >I have had to request permission from the appointed Judge, which they will >provide forms for, to have them opened and copied. I stressed the genealogical >nature of my request and most of the time, if spouses and children are not >living, it has been granted. The judge reads the reasons for the request >(clearly and briefly stating them is a definite asset) and then reviews each >case file to judge the merits of the request against what the reasons for >sealing the proceedings were. If you have a suspicion of an inherited >disease or physical condition in the family, this can be a good way to trace >it. Even though the condition may not be called "Alzheimer's" back then, the >description of the person's behavior will give important insight. Other >conditions might include severe crippling arthritis, congenital and >inherited kidney diseases, progressive neurological diseases like Multiple >Sclerosis and Huntington's, Parkinson's, and family conditions that dispose >someone to premature death such as aneurysms, post childbirth hemorrhages, >etc. Hope this helps, Rita > >