Why has access to North Carolina estate records been removed?

GarnetteDwyer

I am working on family in Orange, North Carolina. I’ve been using the Estate Records regularly. They’re extremely useful. A couple of days before Thanksgiving, access to these files was removed. What is going on?

I can get access to the probate records listed under Orange County, but there are large gaps in coverage.

The ones I no longer have access to are the North Carolina Estate Files 1663-1979. https://www.familysearch.org/?owc=Q67X-V5K%3A183210201%3Fcc%3D1911121

Does anyone know what is happening and why? I’m eager to understand this.

Thanks,

Garnette Dwyer

Maile L

Was there a specific record in the North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979 collection? The link you provided did not work for me. I can browse to Orange County and pick a letter for a surname (W). From there I chose a record for Waddell, Elizabeth (1872) but got an "Image Unavailable" notification. Is this what you are seeing?

I can see the index here: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ8L-113L

FayeLynnStallings

Garnette,

I don't know if there is a connection, but certain records that were previously available at FamilySearch Centers are now randomly showing as locked--within the same collection, some are locked and some are not. I was told by the FamilySearch Library that there is a glitch in the system, and the engineers were working on it. If that's the case, it seems to be taking a while for them to get it resolved!

Randall Jay Philpot

If there is an ongoing glitch in the system which is precluding current access to certain records in the short term it may make sense to contact the Orange County Courthouse directly Orange County Courthouse | North Carolina Judicial Branch (nccourts.gov)

Also, I was wondering if you find the same issue from the Probate Records provided at Ancestry.com.

North Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 | Ancestry®

Good luck with your continued research.