Oxfordshire Probate Records

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

PARISH	PRIMARY COURT	SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
Adderbury with Milton	Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford	2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Adwell	Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford	2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Albury	Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford	2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Alkerton	Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford	2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Alvescot	Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford	2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ambrosden	Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford	2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ardley	Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford	2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ascott-under-Wychwood	Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford	2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Asthall	Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford	2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aston Rowant	Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford	2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aston, North	Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford	2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aston, Steeple	Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford	2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Attington	Search the courts of the surrounding parishes

Probate Indexes Online

Before looking for a will, you should search an index. 

http://users.ox.ac.uk/%7Emalcolm/genuki/big/eng/OXF/probate/1550-90.txt

Here are three files forming "Index Of Probate Inventories, Oxfordshire 1550-1590" based upon an original document "Household And Farm Inventories In Oxfordshire, 1550-1590" published by the Historical Manuscript Society & H.M.S.O. (Editing By Dr. W. O. Hassall. Original transcription by M.A.Havinden, D.G.Vaisey & Jane E. Sayers. Computer transcription by M.Brewerton (c) Copyright 1994.)

Post-1857 Probate Records

Beginning in 1858, the government took over the settlement of estates and all wills are now probated through the Principal Probate Registry system.  The system consists of 11 district registry offices and 18 sub-district registries, located throughout England and Wales, and the principal registry office located in London.  The records are available through the office of Her Majesty's Courts Service.  To learn more, go to the HMCS website.

A country-wide surname index to the records is available, so it is much easier to look for post-1857 wills.  The indexes for 1858-1957 and the records for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.