AGENCY: District Court (Seventh District : San Juan County)
SERIES: 26200
TITLE: Probate registers of action
DATES: 1888-1986.
ARRANGEMENT: Numerical by case number, thereunder chronological by date.
DESCRIPTION: Traditionally district courts, including Seventh District Court (San Juan County), created a register of actions for each probate case heard by the court. Probate cases include the distribution of estates for diseased persons, guardianships for minors and incompetent adults, adoptions, name changes, and insanity cases. The register commenced when an executor or interested party filed a petition with the court. Thereafter the court listed each action until the case was resolved by a decree of distribution in the case of estate settlements, a dismissal of guardian for guardianship cases, or the finalization of an adoption. Actions listed might have included such things as filing petitions or other documents, setting dates for hearings, and court orders of various types. For each case the court clerk identified the relevant name and type of case, whether guardianship, adoption or estate settlement. Registers provide court assigned case numbers. For each action the clerk listed the type of action taken and the date on which that action was taken. Registers of action are case summaries which provide reference to additional records. Court assigned case numbers listed in the registers are a guide to case files which contain all of the important documents related to the case. The list of dates for actions provides reference to court minute books and record books which contain summaries of court actions and copies of important documents.
RETENTION
DISPOSITION
RETENTION AND DISPOSITION AUTHORIZATION
These records are in Archives' permanent custody.
FORMAT MANAGEMENT
Paper: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
Microfilm master: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
Microfilm duplicate: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
Microfilm duplicate: Retain in Office permanently.
APPRAISAL
Historical
Based on the value of these books in accessing historic probate case files from the district court in San Juan County.
PRIMARY DESIGNATION
Public
SECONDARY DESIGNATION
Exempt. UCA 78-30-15 (2008). As of 1 July 1999, adoptions become public after 100 years; until then they are sealed and only obtainable through the court. These books include occasional reference to adoptions.