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''[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Lancashire]]'' | ''[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Lancashire]]'' | ||
== 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 Lancashire. For a general description of England probate records, click [[England Probate Records|here]]. | |||
=== 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. | |||
=== Before 1858 === | |||
Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Lancashire, follow these steps: | |||
==== Step 1. Search Indexes ==== | |||
Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Lancashire. Search these indexes first: | |||
*[http://www.familyhistoryonline.net/database/SussexFHGprobate.shtml http://www.familyhistoryonline.net/database/SussexFHGprobate.shtml] -- 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 [http://sussexrecordsociety.org/home2.asp?an=&ap= Sussex Record Society] has published four volumes of indexes to Sussex wills, and these can be viewed on their [http://sussexrecordsociety.org/bwills1.asp?an=&ap= website]. They are arranged by parish then by surname. | |||
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/wills.asp?WT.hp=Wills Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills (1384-1858)]. | |||
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: | |||
*[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Vision of Britain] | |||
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 Lancashire 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. | |||
Before 1858, every town and parish in Lancashire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and one or more secondary courts. To see a list of parishes (and chapelries) in Lancashire and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them, click on a letter link: | Before 1858, every town and parish in Lancashire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and one or more secondary courts. To see a list of parishes (and chapelries) in Lancashire and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them, click on a letter link: | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| [[Lancashire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes beginning with A|A]] | | [[Lancashire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes beginning with A|A]] | ||
| [[ | | [[Lancashire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes beginning with B|B]] | ||
| [[Lancashire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes C|C]] | | [[Lancashire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes C|C]] | ||
| [[Lancashire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes D and E|D-E]] | | [[Lancashire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes D and E|D-E]] | ||
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|} | |} | ||
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== Lancashire Probate Courts == | == Lancashire Probate Courts == | ||
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*[[Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York]] | *[[Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York]] | ||
In addition, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] had jurisdiction over the whole of England and specifically in the following cases.<br> | In addition, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] had jurisdiction over the whole of England and specifically in the following cases.<br> | ||
*Wealthy individuals<br> | *Wealthy individuals<br> | ||
*Interregnum, 1649-1660, because the Prerogative Court was the only court. | *Interregnum, 1649-1660, because the Prerogative Court was the only court. | ||
*Property in more than one diocese in the Province of Canterbury. | *Property in more than one diocese in the Province of Canterbury. | ||
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*People who died outside England, including British citizens and others who held property in England. | *People who died outside England, including British citizens and others who held property in England. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
=== Appeals Courts === | === Appeals Courts === | ||