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For an explanation of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here]].
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Return to the [[Bedfordshire|Bedfordshire]] County page.
== Getting Started  ==


=== Bedfordshire Probate Courts  ===
''Probate'' is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. Probate records include [[W genealogical glossary terms|wills]] and [[A genealogical glossary terms|administrations]]. This article is about probate records in Bedfordshire. See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.


The following courts had some jurisdiction over Bedfordshire before 1858:
=== 1858 to the Present  ===


*[[Court of the Archdeacon of Bedford|Court of the Archdeacon of Bedford]]  
Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more.
*[[Court of the Bishop of Lincoln|Court of the Bishop of Lincoln]] (Episcopal Consistory)
 
*[[Court of the Bishop of Ely|Court of the Bishop of Ely]] (Episcopal Consistory)
==== Online Records ====
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln|Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln]]  
 
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Aylesbury|Court of the Peculiar of Aylesbury]]
*'''1858-1957''' {{RecordSearch|2451051|England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957}} at FamilySearch; index — [[England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]  
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Biggleswade|Court of the Peculiar of Biggleswade]]
 
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Leighton Buzzard|Court of the Peculiar of Leighton Buzzard]]
=== Before 1858  ===
*Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Bedfordshire, follow these steps:
 
==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====


=== Court Jurisdictions ===
Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Bedfordshire. Before searching the iindexes that cover a particular court, you might want to determine the court a will for your ancestor would be proved in. Step 3 can help you determine the court. Search these indexes first:


Before 1858, the majority of the parishes in Bedfordshire were under the primary probate jurisdiction of the [[Court of the Archdeacon of Bedford]].  Six parishes were under the jurisdiction of the peculiar courts listed above. Here is a list of those six parishes and the courts that jurisdiction over them.
*[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/wills-or-administrations-before-1858/ Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills (1384 - 1858)]
*Index of Bedfordshire probate records, 1484-1858 This includes {{FSC|703748|title-id|disp=indexes}} for the Court of the Archdeacon of Bedford, the Peculiar Court of Biggleswade and the Peculiar Court of Leighton Buzzard. Digital version at [http://www.findmypast.co.uk/ National Wills Index] ($)
*Court of the Archdeaconry of Bedfordshire. FS Library films {{FSC|221664|title-id|disp=88007-88009}}
*{{FSC|116542|title-id|disp=English wills, 1498-1526}} which are transcribed and many from the Archdeacon of Bedford  
*Bedfordshire wills, {{FSC|79682|title-id|disp=1480-1519}}
*The Peculiar Court of Leighton Buzzard : persons named in wills proved {{FSC|1474249|title-id|disp=1701-1846}}
*Index of Bedfordshire probate records,{{FSC|703748|title-id|disp=1484-1858}} The Peculiar Court of Leighton Buzzard
*Wills and administrations, 1624-1858 See FS Library fims {{FSC|291040|title-id|disp=95109 and 95100}}
*Prebendal Court (Leighton-Buzzard) {{FSC|252871|title-id|disp=Probate records, 1537-1842 Index 1736-1846}}
*{{FSC|4791|title-id|disp=Index}} to records of Lincoln Peculiar Courts with Peculiar of Biggleswade
*Probate records for the Commissary Court of Lincoln for the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon, {{FSC|374857|title-id|disp=1559-1857, 1559-1857}} The Act books contain some Admon Grants from the Peculiar Court of Biggleswade
*Some transcripts of Bedfordshire Wills at Lambeth and Lincoln {{FSC|124544|title-id|disp=1387-1570 v. 14}}
*Bedfordshire wills {{FSC|132268|title-id|disp=1601-1652}} at probate registry Lincoln, England, all name index
*Everton and Swineshead parishes have some references in the following court record Probate records for the Commissary Court of Lincoln for the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon, {{FSC|374857|title-id|disp=1559-1857, 1559-1857 }}<br>


In the case of '[[E genealogical glossary terms|extra parochial parishes]],' you would search the courts that had jurisdiction over their neighboring parishes.
Did you find a reference to a probate record?


{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="95%" align="center" border="1"
*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
|-
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.
! style="background: #ffdead" width="15%" | PARISH
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | PRIMARY COURT
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
|-
| Biggleswade
| [[Court of the Peculiar of Biggleswade]]
| 2 - [[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln]]
3 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lincoln]]


4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====


|-
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date. 
| Billington
| Court of the Peculiar of Leighton Buzzard
| 2 - Court of the Peculiar of Aylesbury
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln


4 - Court of the Bishop of Lincoln&nbsp;
Determine ''where'' your ancestor died. It is easier to find a probate record if you know whether the place where your ancestor lived or died is a [[P genealogical glossary terms|parish]]. To learn whether it is a parish, look it up in a gazetteer. Here is a link to the 1872 ''Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales'' online:


5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Vision of Britain]


|-
The gazetteer will either tell you:
| Eggington
| Court of the Peculiar of Leighton Buzzard
| 2 - Court of the Peculiar of Aylesbury
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln


4 - Court of the Bishop of Lincoln
*A place is a parish, or
*What parish it is a part of, or
*What place it is near.


5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
If the latter, look that place up in the gazetteer and see if it is a parish.


|-
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.
| Heath and Reach
| Court of the Peculiar of Leighton Buzzard
| 2 - Court of the Peculiar of Aylesbury
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln


4 - Court of the Bishop of Lincoln&nbsp;
==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====


5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
==== Majority of the County  ====


|-
Before 1858, every town and parish in Bedfordshire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts.  The court that had primary jurisdiction over most of Bedfordshire, with just six exceptions (see below), was the [[Court of the Archdeacon of Bedford|Court of the Archdeaconry of Bedford]].  Here's a list of further possible probate court jurisdictions:<br>
| Leighton Buzzard
| Court of the Peculiar of Leighton Buzzard
| 2 - Court of the Peculiar of Aylesbury
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln


4 - Court of the Bishop of Lincoln  
*Index of Bedfordshire probate records, 1484-1858 This includes {{FSC|703748|title-id|disp=indexes}} for the Court of the Archdeacon of Bedford, the Peculiar Court of Biggleswade and the Peculiar Court of Leighton Buzzard. Digital version at [http://www.findmypast.co.uk/ National Wills Index] ($)
*Court of the Archdeaconry of Bedfordshire. FS Library films {{FSC|221664|title-id|disp=88007-88009}}
*{{FSC|116542|title-id|disp=English wills, 1498-1526}} which are transcribed and many from the Archdeacon of Bedford
*Bedfordshire wills, {{FSC|79682|title-id|disp=1480-1519}}
*The Peculiar Court of Leighton Buzzard : persons named in wills proved {{FSC|1474249|title-id|disp=1701-1846}}
*Index of Bedfordshire probate records,{{FSC|703748|title-id|disp=1484-1858}} The Peculiar Court of Leighton Buzzard
*Wills and administrations, Aylesbury Peculiar Court, 1624-1858 See FS Library fims {{FSC|291040|title-id|disp=95109 and 95100}}
*Prebendal Court (Leighton-Buzzard) {{FSC|252871|title-id|disp=Probate records, 1537-1842 Index 1736-1846}}
*{{FSC|4791|title-id|disp=Index}} to records of Lincoln Peculiar Courts with Peculiar of Biggleswade
*Probate records for the Commissary Court of Lincoln for the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon, {{FSC|374857|title-id|disp=1559-1857, 1559-1857}} The Act books contain some Admon Grants from the Peculiar Court of Biggleswade
*Some transcripts of Bedfordshire Wills at Lambeth and Lincoln {{FSC|124544|title-id|disp=1387-1570 v. 14}}
*Bedfordshire wills {{FSC|132268|title-id|disp=1601-1652}} at probate registry Lincoln, England, all name index
*Everton and Swineshead parishes have some references in the following court record Probate records for the Commissary Court of Lincoln for the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon, {{FSC|374857|title-id|disp=1559-1857, 1559-1857 }}<br>
*[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/wills-or-administrations-before-1858/ Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills (1384 - 1858)]


5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
==== Exceptions  ====


|-
There were six Bedfordshire parishes that were exceptions to this--Biggleswade, Billington, Eggington, Heath and Rich, Leighton Buzzard, and Stanbridge. To see the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over these parishes, click [[Bedfordshire Probate Court Jurisdictions|here]]. <br>
| Stanbridge
| Court of the Peculiar of Leighton Buzzard  
| 2 - Court of the Peculiar of Aylesbury
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln


4 - Court of the Bishop of Lincoln&nbsp;
==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====


5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Once you have found an index reference to a probate, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:


|-
*{{FSC|England, Bedfordshire - Probate records|subject|subject-id=2138059186|disp=Bedfordshire England Probate Records}}(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - some images may only be available at a [https://www.familysearch.org/centers/locations/ FamilySearch Center or FamilySearch Affiliate Library.]<br>
| All other parishes
*Visit or contact the record office that has the original records in its collection.
| Court of the Archdeacon of Bedford
<br>
| 2 - Pre-1837: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln
Post-1836: Court of the Bishop of Ely


3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
== Bedfordshire Probate Courts  ==


|}
Most of Bedfordshire was under the pre-1858 probate jurisdiction of the [[Court of the Archdeacon of Bedford|Court of the Archdeaconry of Bedford]]. The majority of probate searches will be in the records of this court and its superior courts, which were the [[Court of the Bishop of Lincoln (Episcopal Consistory)]] before 1837, and the [[Court of the Bishop of Ely (Episcopal Consistory)]] starting in 1837.  The courts should be searched in that order.  The [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] (and the appeals courts if necessary) should be searched last.


=== Post-1857 Probate Records  ===
However, the following courts also had some pre-1858 jurisdiction over certain parishes within the county. Click on a court name below to learn about the parishes they cover and their records and indexes.


Beginning in 1858, the government took over the&nbsp;settlement of estates and all&nbsp;wills are now probated through the Principal Probate Registry system.&nbsp; The system consists of 11 district registry offices and&nbsp;18 sub-district registries, located throughout England and Wales, and&nbsp;the principal registry&nbsp;office located in London.&nbsp; The records are available through the office of Her Majesty's Courts Service.&nbsp; To learn more, go to the [http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/civil/probate/index.htm HMCS website].
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln|Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Aylesbury|Court of the Peculiar of Aylesbury]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Biggleswade|Court of the Peculiar of Biggleswade]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Leighton Buzzard|Court of the Peculiar of Leighton Buzzard]]<br>


A&nbsp;country-wide surname index to the records is available, so it is much easier to look for post-1857 wills.&nbsp; The [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=208102&disp=Calendar+of+the+grants+of+probate+and+le%20%20&columns=*,0,0 indexes] for 1858-1957 and the records for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.<br>
{{Place|Bedfordshire|Probate}} {{England Probate Records}}


[[Category:England|England]]
[[Category:Bedfordshire Probate Records]]
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