From Paper to Born-Digital: Victoria’s Probate Records Continue Their Digital Shift

Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) advises that from July 2020, all probate records are born-digital, meaning no paper version of the probate record exists. These records can be accessed online through the PROV catalogue and include a PDF copy of the Will.

The change creates a clear dividing line in how the collection is managed and accessed. Between 1994 and July 2020, Wills were incorporated into the physical Probate file. Before 1994, the Will and Probate file were maintained separately, meaning researchers may need to request both records. For records before 1909, the Probate documentation may even be divided across separate consignments.

The collection therefore provides a fascinating snapshot of changing recordkeeping practices over more than a century, from multiple related physical records to consolidated files and, ultimately, entirely digital Probate records.

Digitisation of the historical collection is continuing too. Wills from 1841–1950 and Probates from 1841–1930 are already available online, while PROV is progressively publishing digitised Probate records covering 1930–1950.

For records and information management professionals, it is a useful reminder that digital transformation doesn't simply change the format of a record. It changes how records are created, captured, transferred, described, accessed and preserved, while archival systems must continue to provide access across multiple generations of recordkeeping practice.

Source: Public Record Office Victoria (PROV), Wills and Probate records. Click here to take a look.