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For an explanation of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here]]. | For an explanation of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here]]. | ||
== Getting Started == | |||
Probate is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his/her heirs. | |||
In order to find a probate record for your ancestor, you must answer two questions: | |||
#When did your ancestor die? | |||
#Where did your ancestor live or own property? | |||
A key date is 1858, when probate authority was taken from the ecclesiatical courts of the Church of England and given to the civil government. | |||
*If your ancestor died before 1858, his/her probate would have been proven by an ecclesiatical court and it is important to know where he/she lived, as that will determine which courts had jurisdiction. | |||
*If you know where your ancestor lived before 1858, you should go to the '''Court Jurisdictions''' section below to determine what courts had jurisdiction over your ancestor's place of residence. | |||
*Beginning in 1858, probate authority was vested in the '''Principal Probate Registry''' system. For more information, scroll to the '''Post-1857 Probate Records''' section at the bottom of the page. | |||
Once you have answered the two questions and determined the courts, look for indexes. Indexes will be found on the individual court pages (when you click on a court name) or in the '''Probate Indexes''' section below.<br><br> | |||
== Devonshire Probate Courts == | == Devonshire Probate Courts == | ||
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In addition, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] also served as an appeals court. | In addition, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] also served as an appeals court. | ||
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== Some Explanatory Notes on the Devonshire Courts == | == Some Explanatory Notes on the Devonshire Courts == | ||
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Before 1858, every Devonshire town and parish was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary ecclesiastical court and one or more secondary ecclesiastical courts. | Before 1858, every Devonshire town and parish was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary ecclesiastical court and one or more secondary ecclesiastical courts. | ||
To see a list of places in Devonshire and courts that had pre-1858 probate jurisdiction over them, click on a link for the letter a place name begins with: [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes A|A]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes B|B]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes C|C]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes D & E|D-E]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes F through H|F-H]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes I through K|I-K]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes L & M|L-M]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes N & O|N-O]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes P through R|P-R]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes S|S]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes T through V|T-V]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes W through Z|W-Z]]. <br><br> | To see a list of places in Devonshire and courts that had pre-1858 probate jurisdiction over them, click on a link for the letter a place name begins with: [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes A|A]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes B|B]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes C|C]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes D & E|D-E]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes F through H|F-H]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes I through K|I-K]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes L & M|L-M]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes N & O|N-O]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes P through R|P-R]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes S|S]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes T through V|T-V]], [[Devonshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes W through Z|W-Z]]. <br><br> | ||
== Probate Indexes Online == | == Probate Indexes Online == | ||