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[[England|'''England''' ]] | [[England Civil Registration|'''Civil Registration''']] | [[England Census|'''Census''']] | [[England Church Records|'''Church Records''']] |<br> | <br> | ||
[[England|'''England''' ]] | [[England Civil Registration|'''Civil Registration''']] | [[England Census|'''Census''']] | [[England Church Records|'''Church Records''']] |<br> | |||
[[Image:Reading of a Will.jpg|thumb|right|375x287px]] | |||
== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
Probate records are court records dealing with the distribution of a person’s estate after death. Information recorded may include the death date, names of heirs, family members, and guardians, relationships, residences, inventories of the estate (including trade and household goods), and names of witnesses. | |||
Probate records are very useful for family historians because: | Probate records are very useful for family historians because: | ||
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'''Codicil'''. A codicil is a signed, witnessed addition to a will. | '''Codicil'''. A codicil is a signed, witnessed addition to a will. | ||
'''Administration, Letters of Administration, or Admon'''. These refer to a document appointing someone to supervise the estate’s distribution for someone who died "intestate" (without a will). This document gives very little information but may contain some useful clues. The administrator is usually a relative of the deceased. Click [[England Probate Records: Sample of an Administration|'''here''']] to see a sample administration.<br> | '''Administration, Letters of Administration, or Admon'''. These refer to a document appointing someone to supervise the estate’s distribution for someone who died "intestate" (without a will). This document gives very little information but may contain some useful clues. The administrator is usually a relative of the deceased. Click [[England Probate Records: Sample of an Administration|'''here''']] to see a sample administration.<br> | ||
'''Admon with Will'''. This record grants administration to someone else when the executor named in the will is deceased or is unwilling or unable to act as executor. A copy of the will is attached. | '''Admon with Will'''. This record grants administration to someone else when the executor named in the will is deceased or is unwilling or unable to act as executor. A copy of the will is attached. | ||
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'''Courts of appeal:''' There were three general courts of appeal. Appeals from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury were to the Court of Arches (of Canterbury). Appeals from the Prerogative Court of York were to the Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York, then to the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Final appeals from all courts were to the Pope until 1533 and then to the Court of Delegates until 1831. After 1831 final appeals were made to the Privy Council. | '''Courts of appeal:''' There were three general courts of appeal. Appeals from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury were to the Court of Arches (of Canterbury). Appeals from the Prerogative Court of York were to the Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York, then to the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Final appeals from all courts were to the Pope until 1533 and then to the Court of Delegates until 1831. After 1831 final appeals were made to the Privy Council. | ||
Records of the Court of Arches start in 1660. Many of this court’s records are available on microfiche and are indexed in The Index Library. (Family History Library book {{FHL|942 B4b|disp=942 B4b}}, v. 85.)<br> | Records of the Court of Arches start in 1660. Many of this court’s records are available on microfiche and are indexed in The Index Library. (Family History Library book {{FHL|942 B4b|disp=942 B4b}}, v. 85.)<br> | ||
==== Locating Probate Records<br> ==== | ==== Locating Probate Records<br> ==== | ||
There are three steps to locating probate records. | There are three steps to locating probate records. | ||