How To Get Hold Of An Ancestors Will (1858 – 2013) England And Wales

[DJHawkes]

Before you can get hold of a copy of an ancestors will you will first need to be sure there is one to get a copy of!
After January 1858, a system for applying for and the granting of probate or administration of an estate was introduced which took away the powers of the Ecclesiastical jurisdictions . A number of District Probate Registries opened around England and Wales and a Principal Probate Registry based in London was the head office so to speak.
The Probate Offices compiled an annual index (Calendar of Grants ) alphabetically by surname (and within each surname alphabetical by Christian name) of all the names of the testators (deceased) that had a will put through the probate system.
Over the years these indexes changed their format slightly and also the number of grants grew as more and more people were in a position where a Will was needed.
It is not necessary to know the various compilations and inclusions of those original volumes now as the whole series, and more modern additions, are all now available online on ancestry.co.uk. (from 1858 – 1966 )
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1904
It is possible, with a standard subscription, to view the full content of the Calendar of Grants and that information alone is extremely useful as it will contain the name, date and place of death, usual place of residence and status or occupation of the deceased. It will give the name of the Probate Office where the original grant or administration was issued, and name the executors and their residence and occupation. It will also state the value of the estate.
From this information in the Calendar of Grants, it is possible to eliminate or identify the right or wrong ancestor. It is then also possible to order a copy of the Will and the Grant. (Or a copy of the Letters of Administration, if the deceased did not leave a will).
It used to be that copies of wills and grants were scattered across the country in County Record Office, (As they act as the archive for the District Probate Registries) or in the Probate registry offices themselves. Now, once again due to the internet and technology, all the Original Wills and Grants of Probate can be ordered from one place.
Copies of Wills and Grants can be obtained from the York Probate Sub-Registry, York House, 31, York Place, Leeds, LS1 2BA. From here you can send a cheque or postal order for £6.00 per Will required made out to HMCTS (HM Courts & Tribunals Service). This fee covers a 4 year search either side of the known date of death. If you have found the details of the Grant in the index then you can put all the details on the form the Office will send you but the fee is still £6.00 even if you have the exact details of the date and place of the original grant.
Unfortunately it is only possible to make these applications via post and by paying with a cheque or postal order but in time this will change to debit/credit card and online applications no doubt.

[DJHawkes]

it looks the same to me barmaid, :)