Probate

Probate is the process of proving that the will of a deceased person is valid. Probate files often contain copies of wills, affidavits, statutory declarations of family members, copies of marriage and death certificates, and other documents of interest. In Fiji probate is controlled by the Land Titles Office, Government Building, Suva.

You can find out what property was owned and who it was left too. You can also find out something of how the family got on together. For example, my ancestor Samuel Whippy left only one shilling to his (first) wife and most of his daughters to demonstrate his displeasure at their conduct!

Samuel Whippy's Will

Indexes and Will Books have been microfilmed to 1990 by the Family History Library.

Fijian Probate Records Index 1880 – 1991 (3 microfilms)

Abbas to Jaswant Singh – Film 1715330
Jaswant Singh to Sundar – Film 1715342
Sundar to Zimmer – Film 1715342

Note – these indexes are arranged roughly alphabetically by first name.

Probate Records for Fiji 1879-1990 (17 microfilms)

Jun. 1879-Apr. 1934 –  Film [ 1817389 ]
Jan. 1934-Aug. 1947 –  Film [ 1817399 ]
Aug. 1947-Jul. 1953 –  Film [ 1817404 ]
Jan. 1953-OCt. 1958 –  Film [ 1817405 ]
1958-1961 –  Film 1817409
1961-1965 –  Film 1817400
1965-1969 –  Film 1817401
1969-1972 –  Film 1817402
1972-1975 –  Film 1817403
1975-1977 –  Film 1817411
1977-1979 –  Film 1817412
1979-1981 –  Film 1817413
1981-1983 –  Film 1817414
1983-1986 –  Film 1817415
1985-1988 –  Film 1817416
1987-1988 –  Film 1817417
1988-1990 –  Film 1817410

Note – some records have been filmed out of chronological sequence.