RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: roymck on Sunday 15 February 09 15:22 GMT (UK)
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I would like to get a copy of my fathers death certificate , and also find out if he left a will ..I have no idea who to ask ..I was adopted so i only recently found out that he had died ..He died in Queensland in 1985 .. If anybody can help me i have more details ..Many thanks Roy Mcknight
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Dear Roy,
Here is some information about obtaining wills in Australia
http://www.jaunay.com/wills.html
and here is the web address of the Queensland Birth deaths and marriages.
http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/16.htm
Cheers
Susie
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Try searching for Wills here first, it's free. ;D
http://proarchives.imagineering.com.au/index_search.asp?searchid=54
Red
Oops!! sorry, just re-read it for Queensland. The above URL is for VIC,
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Hi Roy,
I know there are some recent wills at the Queensland State Archives but I'm not sure if they are available for deaths as recent as 1985.
I had a quick look online but couldn't see any mention of dates of wills available at the Archives. I can go to there to check for you if you can tell me his date and place of death.
The death certificate is often included with a will, so don't purchase one until I've checked for you. I haven't any experience with recent wills so unsure what's included.
Let me know. :D
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I thought 1985 would be too recent Ruskie however looking at this guide 1985 seems to the the cut off date
http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/downloads/BriefGuides/BG19Will.pdf
Later wills would have to be presumably through Justice - although it would depend on whether there was a requirement for probate. Once there was no need for death duties, sometimes Wills did not need to go through the courts (mainly when husband/wife is the sole beneficiary)
If you can find a will/probate record, it will definitely contain a copy of the death certificate - so you will get both for one search :) - as Ruskie mentions
If you contact the BDM registry Roy, I suggest you ask to speak to someone senior, as a 1985 death certificate would usually only be available to close relatives & I have no idea how they treat children who were adopted under their rules.
http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/859.htm#Application_for_death_certificates
Trish
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Hi Trish,
Is this right?
I would be able to go to the Archives, obtain the will (if there is one) and view all the potentially sensitive information it contains, including the death certificate ....
however Roy will need to prove who he is, have a JP endorse his documents and even then he may not be permitted to purchase the d/c as he was adopted?
???
Roy, it is completely up to you if you'd like me to try to find the will for you. If you think it may be too sensitive a thing for a stranger to see, I completly understand.
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Hi Ruskie
I was a little surprised to see 1985 listed - I would have thought there may be at least a 30 year closure - but perhaps there is NO closure on wills - I really don't know the law in regard to such things.
The latest will I have looked at in the archives was 1952, so I can't speak with any authority past that date - but if the records are available at the archives, I assume they can be accessed - and there is certainly a death certificate with wills - so there it is. The registry demands 50 years for unrestricted access to death certificates - Wills (same department - justice) apparently does not. Should one say "The law is an ...." without ID Victoria provides death certificates to 1985, NSW to 1978 and I don't know about the other states. Mish mash probably describes it.
I have tried to find something on the justice web site as to applying for a copy of probate, with no joy. I can find how to apply for probate of a will
Trish
Edit: Quickest option may be to call the archives and ask them what is available.
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Hi Ruskie ..Pm sent..Roy
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I have the details from Roy and will let you all know how I get on.
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Hi all! ;D
Good news Roy - I have a copy of the death certificate. 8) I will send you a PM with the details.
Trish - how weird is that? They have wills to 1991 at the archives!!!! So I as a complete stranger can rummage through anyone's wills and death certificates - and get a photocopy for a few cents. However if I wanted to purchase one through the Justice Dept for $20 odd, I wouldn't be able to do so.
Makes perfect sense to me. ;)
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Hi Ruskie,
That is really unreal. I have been having trouble getting a 1952 will here in CQ. Are they only the southern district wills or do they have all of QLD. at the archives. Is this the archives at Runcorn??
Regards
Mariac
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Yes Mariac, Runcorn.
As I was looking for Southern wills I didn't take too much notice of the other districts, but I think I noticed later ones for Central too.
Give me a shout if you need any lookups though I'm not sure when my next visit will be.
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Thanks Ruskie appreciate the offer :)
Regards
Mariac
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Hi All...A big public thank you to Ruskie :-* You went out of your way to help a complete stranger and to find and locate the documents .. Cant wait for the postman to arrive ..Thanks Roy
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You're very welcome Roy. ;D