Shelby Co., MO  PROBATE INDEX 1880-1950, over 4,000 probate files are included in this record.  These files range from one page to dozens of pages of information. The name of the deceased is given followed by the year of death. In the files are wills and AA's, Affidavits of Administration.  AA's are a list of legal heirs of the deceased, some include addresses of the heirs.  There are also 170 insane records, several adoption records, and other court records.  The museum has copies of the pertinent records from these files, but the Shelby County Probate office on the second floor at the courthouse has all the records.  Contact them if you need copies of any of the files. The index on page 45 pertains to the names in the body of the book.

Shelby County Probate Index (1880's - 1950)

The Shelby County, MO Courthouse Probate Office maintains the Probate Order Books (PRO) beginning in 1852.  These records have been abstracted to 1900, but are available past that date.  These probate records, along with the Will books and other available probate records, need to be checked by anyone doing probate research in Shelby County, Missouri.  For the years 1880 to 1950 there is another set of records and they are available in the probate records from the Shelby County Abstract Office (PAR).  Anyone needing copies of the PRO records should contact the Shelby County, Missouri Courthouse Probate Office, Box 176, Shelbyville, MO 63469.

Probate Book A (PRO) 1855 - 1862	Probate Book F (PRO) 1883 - 1886
Probate Book B (PRO) 1863 - 1870	Probate Book G (PRO) 1887 - 1891
Probate Book C (PRO) 1870 - 1876	Probate Book H (PRO) 1891 - 1896
Probate Book D (PRO) 1876 - 1880	Probate Book I (PRO) 1896 - 1900
Probate Book E (PRO) 1880 - 1883

The bond records for the years 1835 - 1860 are not found in the early probate records for Shelby County.  They are available from the Shelby County, MO Courthouse Probate Office - see below.  Anyone needing copies of these records should contact the Shelby County, Missouri Courthouse Probate Office, Box 176, Shelbyville, MO 63469.

Bond Records (1835 - 1860)

Records of Affidavits, Inventories, and Sale Bills of Estates 1835 - 1854.  These records are a wealth of information.  They have been abstracted and provided here through the year 1854 but continue for many years past that date.  The early records list all the heirs, inventory of all the property and the sale bill with the purchaser of the sale items.  Land descriptions are in these records as well.  Slaves are listed by name, age and sex.  To obtain copies of these records, please contact the Shelby County, Missouri Courthouse Probate Office, Box 176, Shelbyville, MO 63469.

Affidavits, Inventories, Sale Bills (1835 - 1854)

The Shelby County, Missouri CIRCUIT COURT records are in the Circuit Court vault.  They have been abstracted and provided here for the years 1835 to 1859.  They are the estate records that are not in the wills or other probate records.  These records are also in packets that contain more information concerning the court case.  Contact the Shelby County Recorder of Deeds, Box 188, Shelbyville, MO 63468 for copies of these records.

Circuit Court Records (1835 - 1859)

Shelby County, Missouri COUNTY COURT books are in the County Clerk’s office. Tracy Smith is the County Clerk.  These records are the “day to day” activities of the county court from 1835 to 1911.  In the early records there are many estate settlements, pauper records, coffin orders, insane records, apprentice records, inquests and other records.  Included here are records that are not in the usual probate records (wills and probates books).  Contact the County Clerk’s Office, Box 186 Shelbyville, MO 63469 for copies of the County Court (COC) records.

County Court Records (1835 - 1911)