Devon Probate Records

England > Devonshire

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

Devonshire Probate Courts

• Court of the Archdeaconry of Barnstable
• Court of the Archdeaconry of Cornwall
• Court of the Archdeaconry of Exeter
• Court of the Archdeaconry of Totnes

Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

In addition, the Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury had jurisdiction over the whole of England. Wealthier individuals, people who owned property in more than one county or lower court's jurisdiction, people who died overseas but owned property in Britain, and Naval personnel often had their estates proven through the Archbishop's court.

Appeals Courts

Any probate that was disputed and could not be settled by the county courts could be sent to these higher appeals courts:

• Court of Arches
• High Court of Delegates

Court Jurisdictions

Here is a list of Devonshire parishes beginning with the letter A and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them. 

For other parishes, click on a link:  B, C, D-E, F-H, I-K, L-M, N-O, P-R, S, T-V, W-Z.

PARISH	PRIMARY COURT	SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
Abbotsham	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Abbotskerswell	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Totnes	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Episcopal Principal Registry of Exeter
Allington, East	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Totnes	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Episcopal Principal Registry of Exeter
Alphington	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Exeter	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter
Alverdiscott	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter
Alvington, West	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Totnes	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Episcopal Principal Registry of Exeter
Alwington	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter
Anstey, East	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter
Anstey, West	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter
Appledore	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter
Arlington	Pre-1848 - Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Exeter; Post-1847 - Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter
Ashburton	A Peculiar of the Court of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter	2 - Court of the Dean and Chapeter of Exeter 3 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 4 - Episcopal Principal Registry of Exeter
Ashbury	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Totnes	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Episcopal Principal Registry of Exeter
Ashcombe	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Exeter	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter
Ashford	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter
Ashprington	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Totnes	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Episcopal Principal Registry of Exeter
Ashreigney	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter
Ashton	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Exeter	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter
Ashwater	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Totnes	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Episcopal Principal Registry of Exeter
Atherington	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter
Aveton Gifford	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Totnes	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Episcopal Principal Registry of Exeter
Awliscombe	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Exeter	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter
Axminster	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Exeter	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter
Axmouth	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Exeter	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter
Aylesbeare	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Exeter	2 - Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) 3 - Court of the Bishop's Registrar of Exeter