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''[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Sussex]]''
{{Sussex-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[England Genealogy|England]]
| link2=[[Sussex, England Genealogy|Sussex]]
| link3=
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| link5=[[Sussex_Probate_Records|Probate Records]]
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For an explanation of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here.]]
==Online Resources==
*


== Getting Started  ==
== Getting Started  ==


Probate is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his/her heirs. 
''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 Sussex. See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.


In order to find a probate record for your ancestor, you must answer two questions:
=== 1858 to the Present  ===


#When did your ancestor die?
Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more.
#Where did your ancestor live or own property?


A key date is 1858, when probate authority was taken from the ecclesiatical courts of the Church of England and given to the civil government. 
==== Online Records ====


*If your ancestor died before 1858, his/her probate would have been proven by an ecclesiatical court and it is important to know where he/she lived, as that will determine which courts had jurisdiction.   
*'''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
*If you know where your ancestor lived before 1858, you should go to the '''Court Jurisdictions''' section below to determine what courts had jurisdiction over your ancestor's place of residence.   
*'''1858-1995''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1904/ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995] at Ancestry ($); index
*Beginning in 1858, probate authority was vested in the '''Principal Probate Registry''' system.  For more information, scroll to the '''Post-1857 Probate Records''' section at the bottom of the page.
*'''1858-2018''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/england-and-wales-government-probate-death-index-1858-2019 England and Wales Government Probate Death Index, 1858-2018] at Findmypast ($) index


Once you have answered the two questions and determined the courts, look for indexes.&nbsp; Indexes will be found on the individual court pages (when you click on a court name) or in the '''Probate Indexes''' section below.<br>
=== Before 1858  ===


<br>
Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Sussex, follow these steps:
 
==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====
 
Wills from various parishes in Sussex have been indexed and made available online for free. See [http://www.sussex-opc.org/ Sussex Online Parish Clerks] to find these indexes.
 
*'''1482-1858''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62214/ West Sussex, England, Wills and Probate, 1482-1858] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
*'''1518-1858''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62213/ East Sussex, England, Wills and Probate, 1518-1858] at Ancestry — index & images ($)


== Sussex Probate Courts ==
*https://sfhg.uk/resources/indexes/wills/names-from-wills<nowiki/>-- compiled by the Sussex Family History Group which has transcribed the names of 12,300 individuals found in Sussex wills, including testators, executors, beneficiaries or witnesses. The information recorded includes name, date and place.
*The [https://www.sussexrecordsociety.org/ Sussex Record Society] has published four volumes of indexes to Sussex wills, and these can be viewed on their [https://www.sussexrecordsociety.org/?s=Wills+index Website]. They are arranged by parish then by surname.  
*[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C12122 Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills (1384-1858)].


Most of West Sussex was under the pre-1858 probate jurisdiction of the [[Court of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) of Chichester for the Archdeaconry of Chichester]] and East Sussex under the jurisdiction of the [[Court of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) of Chichester for the Archdeaconry of Lewes]]. The majority of probate searches will be in the records of these courts and their superior courts. However, the following courts also had some pre-1858 jurisdiction within the county. Click on a court name to learn about records and indexes.
Did you find a reference to a probate record?


*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Exempt Jurisdiction of the Deanery of Battle]]
*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury for the Exempt Deaneries of Pagham and Tarring|Court of the Peculiar of the&nbsp;Archbishop of Canterbury for the Exempt Deaneries of Pagham and Tarring]]
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.
*[[Court of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Winchester]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury for the Exempt Deanery of South Malling]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean of Chichester]]


== Some Explanatory Notes on the Sussex Probate Courts ==
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died ====


== Court Jurisdictions by Parish ==
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date.  


Before 1858, every town and parish in Sussex&nbsp;fell under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts.&nbsp; When looking for the will of an ancestor, you should search the courts in the order given.&nbsp;Search indexes first.&nbsp; For indexes, click on the court name links above [soon to be constructed]. <br>
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:


Here&nbsp;are links to&nbsp;an alphabetical&nbsp;list of Sussex parishes containing a prioritized list of courts with pre-1858 jurisdiction over each.&nbsp; To see which courts to search for probates of persons living in or owning property in particular parish, click on the letter the parish name begins with.
*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Vision of Britain]


{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="432" border="1"
The gazetteer will either tell you:
|-
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'A'|A]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'B'|B]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'C'|C]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'D-F'|D-F]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'G'|G]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'H-K'|H-K]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'L-M'|L-M]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'N-P'|N-P]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'Q-R'|Q-R]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'S'|S]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'T-Z'|T-Z]]&nbsp; &nbsp;
|}


<br>For&nbsp;an authoritative treatise on&nbsp;each Sussex probate courts pre-1858, see Anthony J. Camp's publication, ''Wills and Their Whereabouts''; also available at&nbsp;the Family History Library, book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=413992&disp=Wills+and+their+whereabouts%20%20&columns=*,0,0 #942 S2wa]. <br>
*A place is a parish, or
*What parish it is a part of, or
*What place it is near.


== Probate Indexes Online  ==
If the latter, look that place up in the gazetteer and see if it is a parish.


Before looking for a will, you should search an index.&nbsp;<br>
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.  


[http://www.familyhistoryonline.net/database/SussexFHGprobate.shtml http://www.familyhistoryonline.net/database/SussexFHGprobate.shtml]
==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====


This index by the Sussex Family History Group records 12,300 individuals found in Sussex Wills as Testator, Executor, Beneficiary or Witness. The following information is recorded. <br>• Name – Forenames and surname of individual mentioned in the will
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 Sussex 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.  


The Susex Records Society has done a great job in putting up many of their index listings including probate. The following is the link to their publications on probate indexes. [http://www.sussexrecordsociety.org/bwills1.asp?an=&ap=] <br>Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills (1384 - 1858) [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/browse-refine.asp?CatID=6&searchType=browserefine&pagenumber=1&query=*&queryType=1]<br>
{| style="width: 660px; height: 25px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="660" border="1"
|-
|  [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'A'|A]] 
|  [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'B'|B]] 
|  [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'C'|C]] 
|  [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'D-F'|D-F]] 
|  [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'G'|G]] 
|  [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'H-K'|H-K]] 
|  [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'L-M'|L-M]] 
|  [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'N-P'|N-P]] 
|  [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'Q-R'|Q-R]] 
|  [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'S'|S]] 
|  [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'T-Z'|T-Z]]  
|}


== Probate Indexes  ==
<br>


Bishop of Chichester. Consistory Court (Archdeaconry of Chichester) Wills and administrations, 1511-1865 Indexes 1511-1857. [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=82159&disp=Wills+and+administrations%20%20&columns=*,0,0]<br>Deanery Court or Peculiar Court (South Malling) Probate records, 1588-1858 The jurisdiction for this court includes the parishes of: Busted, The Cliffe or St. Thomas Lewes, Edburton, Framfield, Glynde, Isfield, Lindfield, Mayfield, Ringmer, South Malling, Stanmer, Uckfield and Wadhurst. [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=173636&disp=Probate+records++] Many of these volumes have indexes.<br>Diocese of Chichester. Consistory Court (Archdeaconry of Lewes) Probate records, 1527-1858 Printed book Indexes and FHL Film 97227, 97228, 97229, 97230 and many of the films have indexes at the beginning or end [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=685691&disp=Probate+records%20%20&columns=*,0,0]<br>Dean of Chichester. Peculiar Court Wills and administrations, 1553-1861 Jurisdiction includes Chichester (St. Andrew, St. Bartholomew, St. Martin, St. Olave, St. Pancras, St. Peter the Great, St. Peter the Less, and the Close), New Fishbourne, and Rumboldswyke. Many of the films have an index at the beginning or end[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=82301&disp=Wills+and+administrations%20%20&columns=*,0,0]<br>Archbishop of Canterbury. Peculiar Court (Exempt Deaneries of Pagham and Tarring) Wills and administrations, 1520-1907 Jurisdiction includes South Bersted, Chichester (All Saints), part of Horsham, East Lavant, Pagham, Patching, Slindon, Tangmere, and West Tarring. Many of these films have an index at the beginning or end. [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=82267&disp=Wills+and+administrations%20%20&columns=*,0,0]<br>Diocese of Chichester. Peculiar Court (Exempt Deanery of Battle) Probate records, 1531-1857 The jurisdiction for this court includes only the parish of Battle. [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=173743&disp=Probate+records%20%20&columns=*,0,0]<br>Transcripts of Sussex wills&nbsp;: as far as they relate to ecclesiological and parochial subjects, up to the year 1560 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=147632&disp=Transcripts+of+Sussex+wills%20%20&columns=*,0,0]<br>Calendar of wills and administrations in the Archdeaconry court of Lewes in the bishopric of Chichester&nbsp;: together with those in the Archbishop of Canterbury's Peculiar jurisdiction of South Malling and the Peculiar of the Deanery of Battle; comprising together the whole of the eastern division of the county of Sussex and the parish of Edburton in West Sussex, from the earliest extant instruments in the reign of Henry VIII to the Commonwealth [1509-1660] [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=212898&disp=Calendar+of+wills+and+administrations+in%20%20&columns=*,0,0]<br>Index to Some Wills proved and Admons Granted in the Peculiar Deanery of South Malling, 1560-1567. Included are also an index to an additional 216 Susses Wills. The indexes comprise pages 138-152 Sussex archaeological collections - v. 50 (1907) [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=1679746&disp=v%2E+50+%281907%29%20%20&columns=*,0,0]<br>Calendar of wills in the Consistory court of the Bishop of Chichester, 1482-1800 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=237740&disp=Calendar+of+wills+in+the+Consistory+cour%20%20&columns=*,0,0]<br>Calendar of administrations in the Consistory court of the Bishop of Chichester, 1555-1800&nbsp;: Calendar of wills and administrations in the Peculiar court of the Archbishop of Canterbury, 1520-1670&nbsp;: Calendar of Wills and administrations in the Peculiar court of the Dean of Chichester [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=243356&disp=Calendar+of+administrations+in+the+Consi%20%20&columns=*,0,0]
==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====


== Estate Duty Records<br> ==
Once you have found an index reference to a probate, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:


Starting in 1796, a tax or death duty was payable on estates over a certain value. Estate duty abstracts may add considerable information not found elsewhere. Between 1796-1858 estate duty indexes may help locate a will. For more information, go to [[Estate Duty Records]].<br><br>
*{{FSC|365281|subject_id|disp=Sussex 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. Sussex has two record offices, the [https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/localandfamilyhistory/esro/ East Sussex Record Office] and the [https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/leisure-recreation-and-community/history-and-heritage/west-sussex-record-office/ West Sussex Record Office]. If you are unable to visit a record office, they both provide a research service for a fee.


== Post-1857 Probate Records ==
== Sussex Probate Courts ==


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].  
Here is a list of all of the pre-1858 ecclesiastical courts that had probate jurisdiction over Sussex. For more information, click on a court name.  


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>
*[[Court of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) of Chichester for the Archdeaconry of Chichester]]
*[[Court of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) of Chichester for the Archdeaconry of Lewes]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean of Chichester]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury for the Exempt Deaneries of Pagham and Tarring]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury for the Exempt Deanery of South Malling]]
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]


{{Place|Sussex}}  
{{Place|Sussex}}  


[[Category:Sussex|Probate Records]] [[Category:Probate_records_in_England]]
[[Category:Sussex Probate Records|
Probate]]

Latest revision as of 10:06, 21 May 2024

Sussex Wiki Topics
File:Flag_of_Sussex.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Sussex Background
Local Research Resources

Online 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 Sussex. 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 Sussex, follow these steps:

Step 1. Search Indexes

Wills from various parishes in Sussex have been indexed and made available online for free. See Sussex Online Parish Clerks to find these indexes.

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. Every town and parish in Sussex 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.

A B C D-F G H-K L-M N-P Q-R S T-Z


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:

Sussex Probate Courts

Here is a list of all of the pre-1858 ecclesiastical courts that had probate jurisdiction over Sussex. For more information, click on a court name.

v • d• e
Links to Sussex-related articles
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