TITLE: Probate Laws and Records in Scandinavian Countries
SESSION: F306
DATE & TIME: Friday, 04 May, 2018 at 8:00 am
SPONSOR: FamilySearch

Probate laws in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland governed the process of inheritance and division of property. Information from a probate can be gold nuggets to a genealogist as it may give the names of surviving relatives, their place of residence, and insights into the life of the deceased. Due to the political history, Denmark and Norway shared the same legal code, just as Sweden and Finland did for centuries.

Divisions were fairly simple when a man or woman died with biological heirs and not much property. Other times the division was complicated when the deceased person did not have heirs. Many people have the misconception that their Scandinavian ancestors did not have a probate because they were poor farmers. The reality is, in Denmark and Norway the laws were heavily influenced to protect the rights of minor children. In Sweden and Finland the laws were designed to settle the debts and divide the property of the deceased person regardless of marital status or biological heirs.

This presentation will give insight into the origins of probate laws of Denmark & Norway, and Sweden & Finland. We’ll also discuss the probate process, how to find the records, and examples of translation and interpretation. Come discover the fascinating story of probate laws and records in Scandinavian countries!

TITLE: Best Practices for Research in Scandinavian Countries
SESSION: F329
DATE & TIME: Friday, 04 May, 2018 at 11:00 am
SPONSOR: FamilySearch

The Scandinavian countries are famous for their genealogies and for good reason. The countries of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland have smaller populations compared to other western countries. Historically there is a great stability to their governments and jurisdictions, and they kept amazing records! Now combine these reasons with a great interest in genealogy within those countries, along with a high proficiency of technology and you have the resources for every genealogist’s dream! But with so many resources, combined with cultural nuances and language barriers it’s easy to get lost or make mistakes.

This class will focus on the best practices for doing genealogical research for ancestors from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. We’ll discuss how to avoid common mistakes in research strategies, document your research effectively, and discuss practical tips to enter your data into online family trees.

ABOUT: Geoffrey Fröberg Morris, AG, is a member of the Scandinavian team at the Family History Library. He has been assisting people with ancestors from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland as a resident specialist for 18 years.