Durham Probate Records

For an explanation of probate records in England, click here.

Durham Probate Courts

The following probate courts had some jurisdiction over County Durham before 1858:

• Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)
• Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
• Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
• Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
• Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
  

Court Jurisdictions

Here is a list of Durham parishes beginning with A through C and the pre-1858 ecclesiastical courts that had jurisdiction over them.  Go to the lists for parishes D-E, F-J, K-R, S, and T-Z.

PARISH	PRIMARY COURT	SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
Auckland St Andrew	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Auckland St Anne	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Auckland St Helen	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aycliffe	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Barnard Castle	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Belmont	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Benfieldside	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Billingham	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Birtley	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Bishop Middleham	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Bishopton	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Bishopwearmouth [St Michael and All Angels]	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Bishopwearmouth St Thomas	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Boldon	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Brancepeth	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Byers Green	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Carlton	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Castle Eden	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Chester le Street	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Cockfield	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Collierley	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Coniscliffe	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Coundon	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Crook	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Croxdale	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury