Lancashire Probate Records
For an explanation of probate records in England, click here.
| PARISH | PRIMARY COURT | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER |
|---|---|---|
| Accrington [St James] | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Adlington | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Admarsh | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Western Deaneries - Amounderness | 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 4 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Aigburth | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Ainsworth | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Aldingham | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Western Deaneries - Furness | 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 4 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Altcar | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Altham | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Ancoats St Andrew | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Angerton | Search the courts of the surrounding parishes | . |
| Ardwick [St Thomas] | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Arkholme | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Western Deaneries - Lonsdale | 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 4 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ashton in Makerfield | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Ashton in Makerfield Holy Trinity | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Ashton under Lyne [St Michael] | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Ashton under Lyne Christ Church | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Ashton under Lyne St Peter | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Ashton upon Ribble St Andrew | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Western Deaneries - Amounderness | 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 4 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ashworth | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Astley | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Astley Bridge | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Atherton | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Audenshaw | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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 |
| Aughton | Court of the Bishop of Chester (Episcopal Consistory) | Pre-1541
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Post-1540 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
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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.