The heirship specified in the civil code of 1811, was, with minor adjustments, valid till 1950. A procedural rule issued in 1854 instructed district courts to execute probate proceedings through an appointed notary's office. The court's duty was to allocate and summon heirs so that they could submit their inheritance applications. The heirs were obliged to claim their right at the court and to prove the legal ground, which could be a heritage contract (usually marriage contract), testament, or the law. The probate proceeding was completed with the issuance of an inheritance certificate, in which the notary specified the heirs and their shares. Intestate inheritance succession specified 4 classes of heirs-at-law: 1) children and their descendants, 2) parents and their descendants, 3) grandparents and their descendants, and 4) grandparents. The surviving spouse was entitled to at least one-quarter of the estate in the case of the first class, or at least one-half of the estate in case of the 2^nd and 3^rd classes.  

Since 1898, special probate registers were maintained for this purpose. These books are arranged chronologically and they record the process and final decision.