wills

[lowestoft-lass]

where would i find wills? did everyone make a will? my family werent rich so would they have made one?

[Geoffers]

where would i find wills? did everyone make a will? my family werent rich so would they have made one?

Not everyone made a will. Where someone died without will, you may find that some relative (e..g widow) applied for 'Letters of Administration' (usually shortened to Admon). Quite often these are granted for where someone's estate was only valued at a few Pounds

Before 1858, wills were proven by Church Courts. From 1858 they became the responsibility of the Civil Courts. There is a very useful annual index to wills from 1858 onwards. You will find this in the Family Records Centre (FRC) at London. The index has been copied onto microfilm and can be seen at many County Records Offices and Local Studies Libraries. Copies of wills may be obtained from

The Postal Searches and Copies Department
The Probate Registry
Duncombe Place
York
YO1 7EA
Tel. 01904 624210

The Probate Registry will carry out searches for wills and provide a copy as an all-inclusive pice. But the longer the search, the greater the cost. It's best to use the annual index yourself.

Geoffers

[Mythology]

Message removed

[Geoffers]

"You will find this in the Family Records Centre (FRC) at London. "It's at First Avenue House, between Holborn and Chancery Lane tube stations

Oops, thanks for that correction. I haven't been to London since the wills were kept in Somerset House, so was writing from notes taken from a published source, which I've now amended.

I always use First Avenue House (the books are a lot easier than mucking about with fiche) so I can't be *absolutely* certain, but I *believe* the fiche copies only go up to 1943.

These days I use the microfilm copy at the Centre for Oxofrdshire Studies; their copy runs well past this dtae, I wonder why First Ave Hse stops then???

Geoffers

[Mythology]

Message removed