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For an explanation of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here.]]  
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| link2=[[Buckinghamshire, England Genealogy|Buckinghamshire]]
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Return to the [[Buckinghamshire|Buckinghamshire]] page.
== Getting Started  ==


=== Buckinghamshire 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 Buckinghamshire. See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.


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


*[[Court of the Bishop of Lincoln|Court of the Bishop of Lincoln]] (Episcopal Consistory) -- Archdeaconry of Buckingham
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 London (Episcopal Consistory) -- Archdeaconry of St. Albans
*Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford (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 the Provost of Eton
*Court of the Peculiar of Buckingham
*Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury
*Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury


=== Court Jurisdictions  ===
==== Online Records ====


Below is a list of Buckinghamshire parishes beginning with letters A through C, and the courts that had jurisdiction over them. In every case, there was a primary court that should be searched first, then secondary courts that should be searched second, third, and so on.
*'''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


Once you have identified a court, you should search an index first. Click on the links for the courts above to see indexes.
=== Before 1858  ===


See also parishes [[Buckingham Probate, Parishes D-J|D through J]], parishes [[Buckingham Probate, Parishes K-P|K through P]], and parishes [[Buckingham Probate, Parishes Q-W|Q through W]].
Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Buckinghamshire, follow these steps:


<br>
==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====


{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="95%" align="center" border="1"
Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Buckinghamshire. Search these indexes first:  
|-
! style="background: #ffdead" width="15%" | PARISH
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | PRIMARY COURT
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
|-
| Addington
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford


3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
*Between 1483-1858, the [[Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham]] proved over 35,000 wills of ordinary people of Buckinghamshire. The [https://archives.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/records/D-A/WE Volumes of wills registered in the court of the Archdeacon of Buckingham, 1483-1858] at the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies contains an online index. Click on ''Details'' next to each entry to view index.
*The Buckinghamshire Family History Society has created an online searchable [https://www.bucksfhs.org.uk/index.php/database-searches/family-history-news/25-other-bucks-news/384-bucks-wills-index-on-line will index].
*[https://www.findmypast.co.uk/articles/england-and-wales-published-wills-and-probate-indexes-1300-1858-volumes-available/buckinghamshire/buckinghamshire-probate-records-1483-1660-and-buckinghamshire-peculiars-1420-1660-original-introduction Buckinghamshire Probate Records 1483-1660 and Buckinghamshire Peculiars 1420-1660] at Findmypast ($).


|-
Did you find a reference to a probate record?
| Adstock
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford


3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.


|-
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====
| Akeley
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford


3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
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:  
| Amersham with Coleshill
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|  
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop&nbsp;and Archdeaconry of Oxford


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


|-
The gazetteer will either tell you:  
| Ashendon
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop&nbsp;and Archdeaconry of Oxford


3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
*A place is a parish, or
*What parish it is a part of, or
*What place it is near.


|-
If the latter, look that place up in the gazetteer and see if it is a parish.
| Aston Abbots
| Court of the Archdeaconry of St Albans
| 2 - Court of the Bishop of London
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury


|-
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.
| Aston Clinton
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop&nbsp;and Archdeaconry of Oxford


3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====


|-
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.
| Aston Clinton St Leonard
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
| 2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop&nbsp;and Archdeaconry of Oxford
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury


|-
<br>Before 1858, every town and parish in Buckinghamshire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. Most of Buckinghamshire was under the primary jurisdiction of the [[Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham|Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham]], hence the majority of genealogical searches will be in the records of that court and its superior (or secondary) courts. Click on the court name link in the previous sentence to learn about the records.
| Aston Sandford
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham  
|  
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford


3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
For a list of Buckinghamshire parishes that were ''exceptions'' to the above, and the courts that had jurisdiction over them, click [[Buckinghamshire Probate Jurisdictions|'''here''']]. The list of courts is also listed below in the '''Buckinghamshire Probate Courts.'''


|-
Always search indexes first. To see a list of indexes, click on a court name or go to the '''Search Indexes '''section above'''.'''
| Astwood
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop&nbsp;and Archdeaconry of Oxford


3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
==== 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:  
| Aylesbury
| Pre-1846 - Court of the Peculiar of Aylesbury; Post-1845 - Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
| Pre-1846:  
2 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln


3 - Court of the Bishop of Lincoln
*{{FSC|374308|subject_id|disp=Buckinghamshire 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>


4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
== Buckinghamshire Probate Courts  ==


Post-1845:
Most of Buckinghamshire was under the pre-1858 probate jurisdiction of the [[Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham]]. However, the following courts also had some pre-1858 jurisdiction within the county. Click on a court name to learn about records and indexes.


2 - Courts of the Bishop&nbsp;and Archdeaconry of Oxford
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of St. Albans]]
 
*[[Court of the Bishop of Lincoln (Episcopal Consistory)]]
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
*[[Court of the Bishop of London]] (Episcopal Consistory)
 
*[[Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Oxford|Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford (Episcopal Consistory)]]
|-
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln|Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln]]
| Beachampton
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Aylesbury]]
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Banbury]]
|
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Bierton]]
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Buckingham]]
 
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Monks Risborough]]
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Provost of Eton]]
 
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] .
|-
| Beaconsfield
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Beckley
| Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford  
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
|-
| Biddlesden
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford  
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Bierton with Broughton
| Pre-1846 - Court of the Peculiar of Banbury; Post-1845 - Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
| Pre-1846:
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
 
5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
Post-1845:
 
2 - Courts of the Bishop&nbsp;and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Bledlow
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop&nbsp;and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Bletchley
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Boveney
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Bradenham
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Bradwell
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Bradwell Abbey
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Brayfield, Cold
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Brickhill, Bow
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Brickhill, Great
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Brickhill, Little
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Brill with Boarstall
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Broughton
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Buckingham
| Pre-1846 - Court of the Peculiar of Buckingham; Post-1845 - Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
| Pre-1846:
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
 
Post-1845:
 
2 - Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Buckland
| Pre-1846 - Court of the Peculiar of Banbury; Post-1845 - Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
| Pre-1846:
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
 
5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
Post-1845:
 
2 - Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Burnham
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham  
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop&nbsp;and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Calverton
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Castlethorpe
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Chalfont St Giles
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Chalfont St Peter
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Chearsley
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Cheddington
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Chenies
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Chesham
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Chesham Bois
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Chetwode with Barton Hartshorn
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Chicheley
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Chilton
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop&nbsp;and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Cholesbury
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Claydon, Middle with East Claydon
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Claydon, Steeple
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Clifton Reynes
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Crawley, North
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Crendon, Long
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Cublington
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Cuddington
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham
|
2 - Pre-1845: Court of the Bishop of Lincoln; Post-1844: Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|}
 
<br>
 
=== Post-1857 Probate Records  ===
 
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].  


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|Buckinghamshire|Probate}}
{{England Probate Records}}


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

Latest revision as of 15:22, 19 July 2023

Buckinghamshire Wiki Topics
File:Flag_of_Buckinghamshire.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Buckinghamshire Background
Local Research Resources

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 wills and administrations. This article is about probate records in Buckinghamshire. See England Probate Records for a general description of probate records in England.

1858 to the Present

Beginning in 1858, the Principal Probate Registry had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more.

Online Records

Before 1858

Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Buckinghamshire, follow these steps:

Step 1. Search Indexes

Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Buckinghamshire. Search these indexes first:

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 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:

The gazetteer will either tell you:

  • A place is a parish, or
  • What parish it is a part of, or
  • What place it is near.

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.

Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish

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.


Before 1858, every town and parish in Buckinghamshire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. Most of Buckinghamshire was under the primary jurisdiction of the Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham, hence the majority of genealogical searches will be in the records of that court and its superior (or secondary) courts. Click on the court name link in the previous sentence to learn about the records.

For a list of Buckinghamshire parishes that were exceptions to the above, and the courts that had jurisdiction over them, click here. The list of courts is also listed below in the Buckinghamshire Probate Courts.

Always search indexes first. To see a list of indexes, click on a court name or go to the Search Indexes section above.

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:


Buckinghamshire Probate Courts

Most of Buckinghamshire was under the pre-1858 probate jurisdiction of the Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham. However, the following courts also had some pre-1858 jurisdiction within the county. Click on a court name to learn about records and indexes.

v • d• e
Links to Buckinghamshire-related articles


v • d• e
England Probate Records by county
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