Yorkshire Probate Records

For an explanation of probate records in England, click here. For an explanation  of probate records in England, click here.

Court Jurisdictions by Parish

Before 1858, every town and parish in Yorkshire fell under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts.  For an authoritative treatise on each Yorkshire probate court and the parishes comprising them in pre-1858, see Anthony J. Camp's publication, Wills and Their Whereabouts, also available at the Family History Library, FHL book #942 S2wa. 

When looking for the will of an ancester, you should search the courts in the order given.  Search indexes first.  For indexes, click on the court name links [soon to be constructed].

Here is a list of Yorkshire parishes beginning with the letter A and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them.  For other parishes, click on a letter link:  B, C, D, E-F, G, H, I-K, L, M-N, O-P, Q-R, S, T-U, W, Y.

PARISH	PRIMARY COURT	SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
Aberford	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Acaster Malbis	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Acaster Selby	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Acklam, East	Court of the Peculiar of the Chancellor of York with the Prebendal Jurisdiction of Laughton en le Morthen	2 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of york 3 - Exhequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Acklam, West	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ackworth	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Acomb	Court of the Peculiar of Acomb	2 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of york 3 - Exhequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Addingham	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Adel	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Adlingfleet	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Adwick le Street	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Adwick upon Dearne	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ainderby Steeple	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Eastern Deaneries - Richmond	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Airmyn	Court of the Peculiar of Snaith	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aislaby	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aldborough	Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Prerogative court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aldbrough	Court of the Peculiar of Aldbrough; Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	Court of the Peculiar of Aldbrough 2 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 3 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aldfield with Studley	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Allerton Mauleverer	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Eastern Deaneries - Boroughbridge	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Allerton, Chapel	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Almondbury	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Alne with Aldwark	Court of the Peculiar of Alne and Tollerton	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Alverthorpe	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Amotherby	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ampleforth	Court of the Peculiar of the Prebend of Ampleforth	2 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 3 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Anston cum Membris	Court of the Peculiar of the Chancellor of York with the Prebendal Jurisdiction of Laughton en le Morthen	2 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of york 3 - Exhequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Appleton le Street	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Appleton Wiske	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Eastern Deaneries - Richmond	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Arden	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ardsley	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ardsley East	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ardsley West	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Arkendale	Court of the Peculiar of the Honour of Knaresborough	2 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 3 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Arkengarthdale	Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Arkengarthdale with New Forest and Hope; Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Eastern Deaneries - Richmond	Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Arkengarthdale with New Forest and Hope 2 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 3 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Eastern Deaneries - Richmond 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Arksey	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Armitage Bridge	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Armley	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Armthorpe	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Arncliffe	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Askham Bryan	Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Askham Bryan	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Askham Richard	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Askrigg	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Eastern Deaneries - Catterick	.
Aston cum Aughton	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Attercliffe	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Atwick	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Auburn	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aughton	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Austerfield	Court of the Archdeaconry of Nottingham	.
Austwick	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aysgarth	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Eastern Deaneries - Catterick	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ayton, Great	Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York	2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

Probate Indexes Online

Before looking for a will, you should search an index.
http://www.uclan.ac.uk/ahss/education_social_sciences/history/probate_index.php

An index of wills and related documents covering Lancashire north of the Ribble, and parts of Cumberland, Westmorland and Yorkshire, 1748-1858.

An index of all surviving probate documents for the Western Deaneries of the Archdeaconry of Richmond, 1748-1858 has been prepared. The deaneries included are Amounderness, Copeland, Furness, Kendal and Lonsdale.
http://www.originsnetwork.com/help/popup-aboutbo-yprex.htm

Prerogative & Exchequer Courts of York Probate Index 1853-1858

http://www.dserve.wyjs.org.uk/DServe.exe?dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=Search.tcl

Welcome to the new West Yorkshire Archive Service on-line catalogue.

This catalogue contains brief summaries of all the collections held by the five offices within the West Yorkshire Archive Service. Some collections are also listed fully to item level. Please see the 'what's new in the catalogue' section for a summary of current listing projects and priorities.
Many probate records listed.

http://www.originsnetwork.com/help/popup-aboutbo-ypec.htm

York Peculiars Probate Index 1383-1883

http://www.originsnetwork.com/help/popup-aboutbo-ymed.htm

This index covers over 10,000 wills proved in the Prerogative & Exchequer Courts of York in the period 1267 to 1500. Wills are one of the most important sources for the family historian, and the originals of all the wills indexed here are held at the Borthwick Institute for Archives. Copies of these wills can be ordered online, via the index.

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/#ProbateRecords

Colin Blanshard Withers has produced a list of all known Indexes and Calendars relating to Yorkshire Probate. This is available in both MS Word format (.doc) and plain text format (.txt) from his site.

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.

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)