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For an explanation  of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here.]]  
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== Worcestershire Probate Courts ==
== 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 Worcestershire. See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.
 
=== 1858 to the Present ===
 
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 - [[England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
*'''1858-1995''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1904/ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995] at Ancestry
*'''1858-2019''' [https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/england-and-wales-government-probate-death-index-1858-2019 England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019] at Findmypast
 
=== Before 1858  ===
 
Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Worcestershire, follow these steps:
 
==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====
 
Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Worcestershire. Search these indexes first:
 
*[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/worcestershire-probate-index-1600-1858 Worcestershire Probate Index 1600-1858], at Findmypast.com.
*[https://www.explorethepast.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WillsfromPeculiarParishes.pdf Worcestershire Peculiars Wills Index] '''to 1840s''' - created by Worcestershire County Council
*Fry, Edward Alexander. ''Calendar of Wills and Administrations in the Consistory Court of the Bishop of Worcester '''1451-1600'''.'' London: The British Record Society, Limited, 1904. Free online version at [http://books.google.com/books?id=ny8EAAAAIAAJ Google Books]
*Fry, Edward Alexander. ''A Calendar of Wills and Administrations Registered in the Consistory Court of the Bishop of Worcester, Volume I, Part I: '''1451-1642'''.'' London: The British Record Society, Limited, 1899. Free online version at [http://books.google.com/books?id=7DUEAAAAIAAJ Google Books] [http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/search/master/?master_event=Wills&person_event=Worcestershire&type=person&source=&search_type=person&fn=&phonetic_mode_fn=1&nickname_mode=&sn=Carter&phonetic_mode_sn=1&kw=&yr=&range=0&search=Search&page=2 TheGenealogist.co.uk pay website]
*Fry, Edward Alexander. ''A Calendar of Wills and Administrations Preserved in the Consistory Court of the Bishop of Worcester, Volume II, Part I: '''1601-1614'''.'' London: The British Record Society, Limited, 1907. Free online version at [http://books.google.com/books?id=yjoEAAAAIAAJ Google Books]
*Fry, Edward Alexander. ''A Calendar of Wills and Administrations Preserved in the Consistory Court of the Bishop of Worcester, Volume II, Part II: '''1614-1625'''.'' London: The British Record Society, Limited, 1907. Free online version at [http://books.google.com/books?id=Mz8EAAAAIAAJ Google Books]
*[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C12122 Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury] '''1384-1858,''' which was the highest court in England
*Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "Index of Episcopal Consistory Court of The Bishop Of Worcester 1661-1858". Salt Lake City, UT:  The British Reference Unit, FamilySearch Library, 1970.  {{FSC|255647|item|disp=Index of Probate Records of the Episcopal Consistory Court of The Bishop Of Worcester 1661-1858}}
 
<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]


== Some Explanatory Notes on the Worcestershire Probate Courts  ==
The gazetteer will either tell you:


== Courts Jurisdictions  ==
*A place is a parish, or
*What parish it is a part of, or
*What place it is near.


Before 1858, every town and parish in Worcestershire fell under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts.&nbsp; When looking for the will of an ancester, you should search the courts in the order given.&nbsp; Search indexes first.&nbsp; For indexes, click on the court name links above.  
If the latter, look that place up in the gazetteer and see if it is a parish.  


Here is a list of Worcestershire parishes beginning with the letter A and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them.&nbsp; For other parishes, click on a letter link:&nbsp; [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with B|B]], [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with C|C]], [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with D through G|D-G]], [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with H through J|H-J]], [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with K through N|K-N]], [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with O through R|O-R]], [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with S|S]], [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with T through V|T-V]], [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with W through Z|W-Z]].  
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.  


<br>
==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====


{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="95%" align="center" border="1"
Once you have identified the parish where your ancestor lived or died, learn which courts had jurisdiction over it then search indexes for those courts. Every town and parish in Worcestershire fell under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. Click on a link below for the letter the parish begins with to determine the courts having probate jurisdiction over that parish:
|-
! style="background: #ffdead" width="15%" | PARISH
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | PRIMARY COURT
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
|-
| Abberley
|  [[Court of the Bishop of Hereford]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Abberton
|  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Abbots Morton
|  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Acton Beauchamp
|  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Alderminster
|  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Alfrick
|  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Alvechurch
|  [[Court of the Peculiar of the Rector of Alvechurch or Allchurch]]
| 2 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
3 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]


{| width="472" border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1"
|-
|-
| Areley Kings
| [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with A|A]] 
|  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
|  [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with B|B]]
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|  [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with C|C]]
|-
| [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with D through G|D-G]] 
| Astley
| [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with H through J|H-J]] 
|  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
|  [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with K through N|K-N]]
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|  [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with O through R|O-R]]
|-
| [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with S|S]] 
| Aston Magna
|  [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with T through V|T-V]]
|  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
|  [[Worcestershire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with W through Z|W-Z]]
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|}
|}


<br>
<br>  


<br>
==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====
 
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, Worcestershire - Probate records|subject|subject-id=1259768996|disp=Worcestershire 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.
 
== Worcestershire Probate Courts  ==


=== Post-1857 Probate Records ===
Most of Worcestershire was under the pre-1858 probate jurisdiction of either the [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory)]] or the [[Court of the Bishop of Hereford (Episcopal Consistory)]]. The majority of probate searches will be in the records of these two courts and their superior courts.  However, the following smaller courts also had some pre-1858 jurisdiction within the county. Click on a court name to learn about 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 Dean and Chapter of Worcester]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Evesham]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Rector of Alvechurch or Allchurch]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Rector of Bredon with Norton and Cutsdean]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Rector of Fladbury]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Rector of Hanbury]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Rector of Hartlebury]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Rector of Ripple with Queenhill and Holdfast]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Rector of Tredington with Shipston upon Stour]]
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]


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>
<br>  


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