Warwickshire Probate Records
For an explanation of probate records in England, click here.
Warwickshire Probate Courts
Some Explanatory Notes on Warwickshire Probate Courts
Court Jurisdictions
Before 1858, every town and parish in Warwickshire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and one or more secondary court. When looking for the will of an ancestor in Warwickshire, search the courts in the order given. Search indexes first. For indexes, click on the link for a court name above.
Here is a list of Warwickshire towns and parishes beginning with the letter A. For other places, click on a letter link: B-C, D-L, M-S, T-Z.
| PARISH | PRIMARY COURT | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER |
|---|---|---|
| Alcester | Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) | 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Allesley | Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) |
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Alne, Great | Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) | 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Alveston | Pre-1851 - Court of the Peculiar of Hampton Lucy;
Post-1850 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester |
Pre-1851
2 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-185 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ansley | Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) |
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ansty | Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) |
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Arley | Court of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield (Cathedral) | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Corut of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Arrow | Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) | 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ashow | Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) |
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Astley | Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) |
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Aston Cantlow | Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) | 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Aston juxta Birmingham | Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) |
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Atherstone | Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) |
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Atherstone on Stour | Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) | 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Attleborough | Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) |
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Austrey | Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) |
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
Post-1857 Probate Records
Beginning in 1858, the government took over the settlement of estates and all wills are now probated through the Principal Probate Registry system. The system consists of 11 district registry offices and 18 sub-district registries, located throughout England and Wales, and the principal registry office located in London. The records are available through the office of Her Majesty's Courts Service. To learn more, go to the HMCS website.
A country-wide surname index to the records is available, so it is much easier to look for post-1857 wills. The indexes for 1858-1957 and the records for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.