Public Record Office, Victoria

[judb]

And a further rant.     
I'm looking to see if Ronald MOUNT (from a recent thread) has a will or a probate document.  I carefully enter the name Mount in the box where you are invited to put the name and lo - I get one person with surname Mount AND a list of people with all kinds of surnames who lived in Mount Macedon, Mount Alexander, Mount Martha etc  Grrrrrr

Also I don't know if I mentioned that probate documents are now searched separately which can be really difficult as probate is not granted until after the death (surprise!) and sometimes many years after.

    Judith, who is VERY frustrated.

[Wiggy]

  Judith, who is VERY frustrated.

I can imagine!!        - I was too when I tried to find something and had a similar experience.   

[sparrett]

Here is their email "contact us" option.

http://prov.altarama.com/reft100.aspx?pmi=Ee69JrOVjf

Perhaps it is time for a "feedback" campaign of sorts from  family history researchers and regular users.

They will not know how users feel unless they are told.

Sue

[judb]

Have already sent them a couple of emails pointing out how difficult they have made it. One i sent anonymously and the other I asked for a reply.  We'll see....................

Judith

[Jomot]

I share your frustration & have also contacted them.  It seems to be a case of 'if it ain't broke, break it' 

[Nanna52]

After reading this last night I went in search of information that I had previously found, so knew was there.  First immigration records for my great grandparents, easily found.  Goody.
Now for my grandfathers will and probate.  I should have quit while I was ahead.  Went round in circles until I finally found search box at bottom of page, on another page.  I then typed in James Arthur James, date of death, 1918". I got over 65,000 names covering all available years.  Narrowed it down to around 1,000 names by choosing time line.  Finally found him.  Then I had to do it all again for the will.  Where's the padded room.  Oh and there were not 65,000 plus James Arthur James out there, I had everyone with James and Arthur in their name.  Thank goodness he didn't have four different names like some of my ancestors.

Added: went back to try again and it went much better.  Intrigued to find out that someone died in 1882 and probate granted in 1918.

[judb]

Interesting - I have had a reply saying they're sorry I find it frustrating and We are implementing an alternative search for Wills and Probates that presents them in a table where you can sort them by given name/family name.  We would love to have had this ready for launch last week, but some problems with the code meant that we have had to hold it back.  It should be ready in the next few days

Again - We'll see.  No mention of the difficulty in finding probate documents which often include valuable information as to real estate etc.

At least the reply was quick!

Judith

[cando]

I've sent my grizzle to them as well.

Why launch the new website unless it is fully functional and COMPLETE

Yep...I'm grumpy today....goes along with my age

Cando

[sparrett]

Sent my two bob's worth too

I tried to briefly describe what is really useful and wanted in a search facility and why it is the better way to construct the site.

Sue