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== Getting Started == | == Getting Started == | ||
''Probate'' is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for the | ''Probate'' is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. | ||
Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for the probating estates (click on the link to learn more about it). | |||
For general information about England probate records, click [[England Probate Records|here]]. | |||
Follow these steps to search for a pre-1858 probate record in Sussex. | Follow these steps to search for a pre-1858 probate record in Sussex. | ||
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*The [http://sussexrecordsociety.org/home2.asp?an=&ap= Sussex Record Society] has published four volumes of Sussex wills, and these can be viewed directly on their [http://sussexrecordsociety.org/bwills1.asp?an=&ap= website]. They are arranged by parish then by surname. | *The [http://sussexrecordsociety.org/home2.asp?an=&ap= Sussex Record Society] has published four volumes of Sussex wills, and these can be viewed directly on their [http://sussexrecordsociety.org/bwills1.asp?an=&ap= website]. They are arranged by parish then by surname. | ||
In addition, an index to the Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills (1384 - 1858) is available on the National Archives [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/wills.asp?WT.hp=Wills website]. | In addition, an index to the Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills (1384 - 1858) is available on the National Archives [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/wills.asp?WT.hp=Wills website]. | ||
=== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish === | |||
Before 1858, every town and parish in Sussex fell under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary or superior courts. If you do not find reference to a probate record for your ancestor in general indexes, you should search a court-specific index, but to do that you must identify the courts that had jurisdiction over the place where your ancestor lived. Click on the letter the name of your place begins with, then follow the steps found there. | |||
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== Sussex Probate Courts == | == Sussex Probate Courts == | ||
Here is a comprehensive list of the courts that had pre-1858 jurisdiction in Sussex with links to information about their records and indexes. | |||
*West Sussex: [[Court of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) of Chichester for the Archdeaconry of Chichester]] | |||
*East Sussex: [[Court of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) of Chichester for the Archdeaconry of Lewes]]. | |||
The majority of probate searches will be in the records of the above courts and their superior courts. However, the following courts also had some pre-1858 jurisdiction within the county. | |||
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Exempt Jurisdiction of the Deanery of Battle]] | *[[Court of the Peculiar of the Exempt Jurisdiction of the Deanery of Battle]] | ||
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*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean of Chichester]] | *[[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 | In addition, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] had jurisdiction over the whole of England and specifically in the following cases. | ||
=== Appeals Courts === | === Appeals Courts === | ||
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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> | 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> | ||
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