The Hamilton County Probate Court (HCPC) was created in 1852. Before that year, guardianships, wills and probates were handled by the Court of Common Pleas from 1791 to 1852. The history of the Court House and the Probate Court is interesting. There is a list of records at the court which can be used as a finding aid.

Probate Court Records

HCGS has assembled a detailed guide book, A Guide to Genealogical Resources in Cincinnati & Hamilton County, 9th Edition, available for purchase in our Shop & Support section. It gives detailed information on all the various records that have been created by the Probate Court.

Birth and Death Records, 1863-1908

Births and deaths were recorded at the Probate Court from 1863 to 1908. The originals are in the Archives and Rare Books Library at the University of Cincinnati. They have been indexed. See also Local Records - Births and Baptisms and Death Records

Birth Records - Registration and Correction, 1941-1994

Delayed birth registrations are on the Probate Court website. More information about birth correction and birth registration is also available.

Marriage Records - 1852 to present

For more information on marriage records created in the Probate Court, see Local Records - Marriages & Divorces.

Guardianship Records - 1852 to present

For more information on guardianship records created in the Probate Court, see Local Records - Guardianship and Orphanages.

Minister, Midwife and Physician License Records

Minister (1840-1976) and physician licenses (1896-1934 & 1973-1987) were recorded in the Probate Court. The early originals are at the Archives and Rare Books Library. Go to the Probate Court historical records counter for midwife records.

Naturalization and Citizenship Records

Naturalization documents were created in Common Pleas and Probate Courts. A partial index (1856-1906) is on the Probate Court site. Originals of many records are at the Archives and Rare Books Library. For more information on available records and indexes, see Local Records - Naturalizations.

Probate Journals, 1791-1891

Probate journals are the recorded minutes of the Probate Court proceedings when in session. Those from 1791 to 1837 have been published and are online at the Probate Court site. Those from 1858 to 1891 are online at FamilySearch. From there, click on "Browse through 6,997,828 images", click on Hamilton, then scroll down to Journals. HCGS has created a list of probate records on FamilySearch which gives image number ranges for page numbers of the probate journals. Scroll to second page.

Probate Account Records, 1852-1877

During the probate of an estate, the liquid assets, debts and liabilities of the deceased are collected and recorded in account books. Those surviving from 1852 to 1877 have been indexed by HCGS. See Local Records - Wills, Probate & Estates.

Probate Inventory Records, 1809-1883

During the probate of an estate, the material assets of the deceased are collected and recorded in inventory books. Those surviving from 1809 to1883 have been indexed by HCGS. See Local Records - Wills, Probate & Estates.

Wills – Original and Registered, 1791 to present

During the probate of an estate, if the deceased left a will, it might be in the possession of the family, or an attorney, or previously brought to the court to be registered. Originals are in the Archives and Rare Books Library. See also Local Records - Wills, Probate & Estates.

Probate Court Original Records in the Archives and Rare Books Library (UC-ARB)

The Probate Court has stored three major genealogical collections in the Archives and Rare Books Library. Online indexes include

Cincinnati Birth and Death Records and indexes, 1865-1912
Hamilton County, Ohio, Citizenship and Naturalization Records and indexes, 1837-1916
Hamilton County, Ohio, Original Wills and indexes, 1791-1901

Probate Court Records in the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library (CHPL)

Some Probate Court records are on microfilm in the Genealogy and Local History Department. A book and film list can be used as a finding aid.

Probate Court Records on FamilySearch

Hamilton County Probate Records can be found in two collections at the FamilySearch website. The first collection is with other Ohio counties at FamilySearch.org. From there, click on "Browse through 6,997,828 images", click on Hamilton. Scroll down to view the records you want. The second set added in 2014 is Ohio, Hamilton County Records, 1791-1994. Record book pages on the FamilySearch website are accessed by image number, not page number. HCGS has created a list of probate records on FamilySearch. See the second page which gives image number ranges for page numbers of the probate journals.

page modified: May 2024