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''[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Sussex]]''
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The following article is about probate records in the county of Sussex. For general information about English probate records, click [[England Probate Records|here]].
==Online Resources==
*


<br>
== 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 Sussex. See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.
 
=== 1858 to the Present  ===


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


''Probate'' is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. The term ''probate'' refers to a collection of documents, including [[W genealogical glossary terms|wills]], [[A genealogical glossary terms|administrations]] (also called admons), [[I genealogical glossary terms|inventories]], and [[A genealogical glossary terms|act books]]. The Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process until to 1858. This article explains about probates and how to get started to search for a will.
==== Online Records ====


Beginning in 1858, authority over probate matters was taken from ecclesiastical courts and put under the civil authority of the Principal Probate Registry. The '''Probates After 1857'''&nbsp;section below has a link to an article about probates after 1857.  
*'''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 ($); index
*'''1858-2018''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/england-and-wales-government-probate-death-index-1858-2019 England and Wales Government Probate Death Index, 1858-2018] at Findmypast ($) index


<br>
=== Before 1858  ===


== Getting Started  ==
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:


''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 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 Probates After 1857&nbsp;section below contains links to additional information about the records of this court.  
==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====


To look for a probate record before 1858:<br>
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.


#Discover when and where your ancestor died. If you don’t know, use the approximate date and place where they lived. <br>
*'''1482-1858''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62214/ West Sussex, England, Wills and Probate, 1482-1858] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
#Go to [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/County_Probate_Records#Court_Jurisdictions Court Jurisdictions] section below.<br>
*'''1518-1858''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62213/ East Sussex, England, Wills and Probate, 1518-1858] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
#Click a letter or span of letters for your place name. This opens a jurisdictions table.<br>
#Follow the instructions on the jurisdictions table page.<br>


== 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.
*[[Courts 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]]


In addition, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] had jurisdiction over the whole of England and specifically in the following cases.<br>
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====


*Wealthy individuals<br>
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date. 
*People who owned property in more than one county<br>
*Military and naval personnel<br>
*People who lived or owned property outside England<br>


=== Appeals Courts  ===
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:


Any probate that was disputed and could not be settled by the county courts could be sent to these higher appeals courts:  
*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Vision of Britain]


*[[Court of Arches]]
The gazetteer will either tell you:
*[[High Court of Delegates]]


The [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] also served as an appeals court.  
*A place is a parish, or
*What parish it is a part of, or
*What place it is near.


== Some Explanatory Notes on the Sussex Probate Courts  ==
If the latter, look that place up in the gazetteer and see if it is a parish.


== Court Jurisdictions by Parish  ==
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.


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


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.  
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.  


{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="432" border="1"
{| style="width: 660px; height: 25px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="660" border="1"
|-
|-
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'A'|A]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'A'|A]]  
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'B'|B]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'B'|B]]  
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'C'|C]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'C'|C]]  
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'D-F'|D-F]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'D-F'|D-F]]  
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'G'|G]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'G'|G]]  
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'H-K'|H-K]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'H-K'|H-K]]  
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'L-M'|L-M]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'L-M'|L-M]]  
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'N-P'|N-P]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'N-P'|N-P]]  
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'Q-R'|Q-R]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'Q-R'|Q-R]]  
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'S'|S]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'S'|S]]  
| &nbsp;[[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'T-Z'|T-Z]]&nbsp; &nbsp;
| [[Sussex Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with 'T-Z'|T-Z]]  
|}
|}
<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>
== Probate Indexes Online  ==
Before looking for a will, you should search&nbsp;the following index:&nbsp;&nbsp;
[http://www.familyhistoryonline.net/database/SussexFHGprobate.shtml http://www.familyhistoryonline.net/database/SussexFHGprobate.shtml]
Here is an index compiled by the Sussex Family History Group which has transcribed&nbsp;12,300 individuals as found in Sussex Wills, including&nbsp;Testators, Executors, Beneficiaries or Witnesses. The following information is recorded.
*Name – Forenames and surname of individual mentioned in the will
*Town location


<br>
<br>


The Sussex 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. [n] <br>Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills (1384 - 1858) [n]
==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====


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


== Probate Indexes  ==
*{{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.


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]
== Sussex Probate Courts  ==


== Estate Duty Records<br> ==
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.


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.Estate duty indexes may help locate a will. For more information, go to [[Estate Duty Records]].<br><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]]
== Probates After 1857  ==
*[[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]]


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. For more information, go to [[Principal Probate Registry]].<br>{{Place|Sussex}}  
{{Place|Sussex}}  


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

Latest revision as of 10:06, 21 May 2024

Sussex Wiki Topics
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Beginning Research
Record Types
Sussex Background
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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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