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If a search in the most likely probate court jurisidiction proves unsuccessful, then search the next court as listed in ranked order, i.e. "no. 2", and etc. | If a search in the most likely probate court jurisidiction proves unsuccessful, then search the next court as listed in ranked order, i.e. "no. 2", and etc. | ||
== 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. | |||
*Once you have answered the two questions above 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. | |||
*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. | |||
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== Probate Indexes == | |||
Cheshire's probate jurisdictions are well-covered with indexes; look in this section in each court jurisdiction to find valuable indexes to Cheshire's probate records. | |||
== Starting Your Search in Indexes == | == Starting Your Search in Indexes == | ||
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==== Probate Indexes Online 1492-1940 ==== | ==== Probate Indexes Online 1492-1940 ==== | ||
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[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=1061472&disp=Wills+and+other+probate+records+proved+i%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Indexes] and calendars to the Probate Acts of Wills and Administrations (Admons) exist from 1492-1857. Calendars are a kind of index (of the first letter of each surname) to the probate records and admons (administrations). | [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=1061472&disp=Wills+and+other+probate+records+proved+i%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Indexes] and calendars to the Probate Acts of Wills and Administrations (Admons) exist from 1492-1857. Calendars are a kind of index (of the first letter of each surname) to the probate records and admons (administrations). | ||
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==== Microfilmed Indexes at the Family History Library ==== | ==== Microfilmed Indexes at the Family History Library ==== | ||
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== Estate or Death Duty Wills and Administrations == | == Estate or Death Duty Wills and Administrations == | ||