In this lecture, attendees will discover that probate courts serve as a vast repository for much more than just the distribution of a deceased person’s property. The session provides a methodical overview of the “probate packet,” demonstrating how to locate and analyze often-overlooked documents such as letters of administration, inventories, estate sales, and court dockets. Participants will learn how these records—along with guardianship files for minors and adults, apprenticeships, and institutional commitments—act as functional evidence for establishing family relationships, land ownership, and vital dates. By exploring the various names these courts take across different jurisdictions, such as the Orphan’s Court or Court of the Ordinary, researchers will gain the technical skills necessary to conduct a reasonably exhaustive search for proof within the complex archives of the courthouse.