🔍 Archway-style Collections Search

cURL request stats

Raw data from Axiell backend

Array
(
    [entityType] => ITEM
    [entity] => Array
        (
            [contextId] => aims
            [description] => Array
                (
                    [0] => These files document probate cases heard at the High/Supreme Court for the Hawke's Bay area (including Napier and Hastings). Probate files contain all the legal documentation required for the granting of probate on a will ie. the legal administration of an estate.
                )

            [id] => 18573
            [idSort] => 18573
            [name] => Napier probate files [fifth sequence]
            [custom] => Array
                (
                    [custom5] => Folded files bound with legal tape.
                )

            [identifier] => Array
                (
                    [priref] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => 25481
                        )

                )

            [authenticityNote] => 
To request: This series is listed to the box level only. Archives staff will normally only retrieve a single item per request. Please identify the specific item required by referring to the controlling series 6028. Additional relevant legislation: Family Protection Act 1955 (and subsequent amendments) - this sets out who is entitled to lodge a claim against an estate. Status of Children Act 1969 (and subsequent amendments) - this states that all children should be treated equally, regardless of whether their parents were married to each other.
For an explanation of the uncertain end date see the full description above.
            [conditionsOfAccess] => Open
            [digitalRecordInArchive] => 
            [hasBeginningDate] => Array
                (
                    [normalizedValue] => 1967-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => exact
                            [1] => yearOnly
                        )

                )

            [hasEndDate] => Array
                (
                    [normalizedValue] => 2000-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => approximate
                            [1] => yearOnly
                        )

                )

            [history] => 
These files document probate cases heard at the Napier High/Supreme Court for the Hawke's Bay area. In 1967 the Court started a new series of probates using an annual single number system. This replaced the running number sequence used in the previous series (Series 22776). A controlling set of registers for the files in this Series can be found in Series 6028.



This series was closed in c. 2000 with another the adoption of a new electronic case management system throughout the courts system. Earlier sequences of probate files can be found in Series 22760, 22774, 22775 and 22776.
Probate case files contain all the legal documentation required for the granting of a probate on a will. However, not everyone who had made a will has a probate file.  The size of the estate was a determining factor in whether wills went to probate.  Those wills that were probated were usually lodged in the High Court nearest to where the deceased resided.
If a person died without making a will, then there may be letters of administration, which contain the legal documentation required for the administration of an intestate person's estate.
Legislation
Section 5 of the Administration Act 1969 gave the High Court jurisdiction in the granting of probates and letters of administration.  Schedule 1 of that Act outlined the format for a Certificate of Administration.
The Second Schedule of the Judicature Act 1908 consisted of the High Court Rules.  This was substituted, from 1 January 1986, by section 10 of the Judicature Amendment Act (No. 2) 1985.  Part 8 of the High Court Rules concerned Probate and Administration.
The Wills Act 1837 (UK) was the primary act governing the format and administration of wills.
Earlier and later recordkeeping systems
Probates prior to 1967 were registered using a different recordkeeping system.  They can be located by searching under accession number W3846, or in some cases, by searching under the deceased's name.
A new national records management system was introduced in all Courts in the early 2000s.  Court records from c.2000 onward have been entered into this recordkeeping system.[1]
Footnote:
[1] Discussion with Jane Penney, Civil Case Flow Manager, Wellington High Court.  January 2006.
            [isAssociatedWithDate] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [type] => HoldingsYears
                            [hasBeginningDate] => Array
                                (
                                    [type] => YearStartHoldings
                                    [normalizedValue] => 1967-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => exact
                                            [1] => yearOnly
                                        )

                                )

                            [hasEndDate] => Array
                                (
                                    [type] => YearEndHoldings
                                    [normalizedValue] => 1993-01-01T00:00:00.0Z
                                    [dateQualifier] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => exact
                                            [1] => yearOnly
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                )

            [isAssociatedWithPlace] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [name] => Wellington repository
                        )

                )

            [itemType] => Series
            [rdfType] => recordSet
            [recordIsMissing] => 
            [ricClassification] => NUMERICAL
            [ricClassificationDescription] => Annual single number assigned to each file.
            [seriesRestrictionReason] => No restrictions
            [setSpec] => series
        )

)