Getting a copy of a will

[Barnzzz]

Hello, some time this week (when its not raining !), I'm intending going to get a copy of a will. The probate registry is very near where I work and so I could go in my dinner hour.

Does anyone know if it is OK to just turn up in person ?

Does anyone know what I do when I get there ?

I'm a bit nervous !

Sue

[Jan1954]

Sue,

I have only ever obtained copies of wills from the Probate Office in Holborn, but I expect the procedure is similar.

In Holborn, there are masses of registers broken down into dates and then alphabetical within dates. I expect that it will be similar at your local office, but with the registers on microfilm/fiche?

I find the will that I am after, write the reference number down on the form provided and hand it over with the required £5.

Every time, the staff have been really lovely so, if all else fails, look helpless and ask for assistance

Forgot to say, I only ever "just turn up" - no appointment, but best to avoid lunch times.

[Margarets60]

Hello, some time this week (when its not raining !), I'm intending going to get a copy of a will. The probate registry is very near where I work and so I could go in my dinner hour.

Does anyone know if it is OK to just turn up in person ?

Does anyone know what I do when I get there ?

I'm a bit nervous !

Sue

Hi Sue,
I haven't been to a probate office but have got copies of Wills from the Preston Record Office. There they have index books which are in order of the year that the probate was granted. When you find the appropriate book the surnames are in alphabetical order. I had to make a note of the reference, name and date of the Will, fill in a small form and hand it in at a desk together with the number of the table where I was working. Once my table number flashed up onto a screen I was given the Wills in exchange for my library card (I got this on my first visit to the records office but needed two forms of identification i.e passport and utility bill). I could then handle the Wills, ensure that they were the ones I needed and then just asked for photocopies of them which were posted to me- the cost was negligible and the Wills were amazing-well worth any slight nervousness or hassle. Good luck.I am sure the people there will be very helpful. They must be used to explaining procedures to novices like us.

[Barnzzz]

Hi Jan and Margaret, thanks, you have both made me feel less nervous. I'll let you know how I get on.

Sue

[Peter Goodey]

You haven't provided any dates but generally speaking local registries do not have full copies of the calendars.

According to my notes Bristol has calendar books covering 1901-1972 and microfiche covering 1973-1995. Later dates are computerised.

[Barnzzz]

Hi Peter, I'm really very ignorant about wills ! I went there today to try and find a will from 1886. When I got there I asked where I should go and was told 'there's some old books over there and a computer." I was in a hurry as it was my dinner hour so went straight on the computer and of course, failed to find anything !

I then thought I'd look up someone else who died in 1973, but couldn't find him either. However, I can tell you that 1973 onwards is now on computer rather than microfiche.

Not a successful trip but at least it was only a few hundred yards away.

Have you any pointers towards finding a pre 1901 will as I'm quite confidant this chap made one ? He seems to have been quite well off and some of his family were solicitors so would have probably done the paperwork for him on the cheap !

Thanks a lot

Sue

[Jan1954]

Hi Sue,

Have a read of both Peter and Geoffers' posts in this thread. It should provide some helpful pointers.

The HMCS guide is particularly useful.