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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  ==
 
''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.  
 
=== 1858 to the Present  ===


== Getting Started ==
Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more.
 
==== Online Records ====
 
*'''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]]
 
=== Before 1858  ===
 
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 ====
 
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:
 
*[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>
 
Did you find a reference to a probate record?
 
*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.
 
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====
 
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date. 
 
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:
 
*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Vision of Britain]


''Probate'' is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. The Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process until to 1858. Beginning in 1858, authority over probate matters was taken from ecclesiastical courts and put under the civil authority of the Principal Probate Registry. The Post-1857 Probate Records section below contains links to additional information about the records of this court.
The gazetteer will either tell you:


To look for a probate record before 1858:<br>
*A place is a parish, or
*What parish it is a part of, or
*What place it is near.


#Discover when and where your ancestor died. If you don’t know, use the approximate date and place where they lived. <br>
If the latter, look that place up in the gazetteer and see if it is a parish.  
#Go to [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Cumberland_Probate_Records#Court_Jurisdictions Court Jurisdictions] section below.<br>
#Click a letter or span of letters for your place. This opens a jurisdictions table.<br>
#Follow the instructions on the jurisdictions table page.<br>


== Bedfordshire Probate Courts  ==
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.


The following courts had some jurisdiction over Bedfordshire before 1858:
==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====


*[[Court of the Archdeacon of Bedford|Court of the Archdeacon of Bedford]]
==== Majority of the County  ====
*[[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)
*[[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> In addition, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] had jurisdiction over the whole of England. Wealthier individuals, people who owned property in more than one county or lower court's jurisdiction, and Naval personnel often had their estates proven through the Archbishop's court.
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>


=== Appeals Courts ===
*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)]


Any probate that was disputed and could not be settled by the county courts could be sent to these higher appeals courts:
==== Exceptions  ====


*[[Court of Arches]]
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>
*[[High Court of Delegates]]


== Some notes on Bedfordshire Probate Courts ==
==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record ====


== Court Jurisdictions  ==
Once you have found an index reference to a probate, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:


Before 1858, every town and parish in Bedfordshire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts.&nbsp; The court that had primary jurisdiction over most of Bedfordshire, with just a few exceptions, was the [[Court of the Archdeacon of Bedford]].&nbsp;
*{{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>
*Visit or contact the record office that has the original records in its collection.
<br>


The secondary courts over most of Bedfordshire 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.&nbsp; The courts should be searched in order of primary court first and secondary court second.&nbsp; The [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] (and the appeals courts if necessary) should be searched last.
== Bedfordshire Probate Courts  ==


For a list of the Bedfordshire parishes that were exceptions to this, and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them, click [[Bedfordshire Probate Court Jurisdictions|here]]. <br>
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 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=authordetails&authorno=301365&name=Great+Britain%2E+Principal+Probate+Registry%2C+null&columns=*,0,0 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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