10,814
edits
added to the introduction
mNo edit summary |
(added to the introduction) |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
Probate is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his/her heirs. | |||
*If the person left a will, they died 'testate' and a named executor presented the will in court and was granted the authority to carry out the wishes of the deceased as stated in the will. | |||
*If the person did not leave a will, they died 'intestate' and the court appointed an administrator (through 'letters of administration') to pay the deceased's debts and distribute his/her remaining estate to heirs. | |||
In order to find a probate record for your ancestor in Kent, you must answer two questions: | In order to find a probate record for your ancestor in Kent, you must answer two questions: | ||
| Line 12: | Line 17: | ||
A key date is 1858, when probate authority was taken from the ecclesiatical courts of the Church of England and given to the civil government. | A key date is 1858, when probate authority was taken from the ecclesiatical courts of the Church of England and given to the civil government. | ||
*If your ancestor died before 1858, his/her probate would have been proven by an ecclesiatical court and it is important to know where he/she lived or owned property, as that will determine which courts had jurisdiction. If you know where your ancestor lived or owned property, you should go to the '''Probate Court Jurisdictions''' section below to determine what courts | *If your ancestor died before 1858, his/her probate would have been proven by an ecclesiatical court and it is important to know where he/she lived or owned property, as that will determine which courts had jurisdiction. If you know where your ancestor lived or owned property, you should go to the '''Probate Court Jurisdictions''' section below to determine what courts had jurisdiction over your ancestor's place of residence and/or property. | ||
*Beginning in 1858, probate authority was vested in the '''Principal Probate Registry''' system. For more information, scroll to the '''Post-1857 Probate Records''' section at the bottom of the page. | *Beginning in 1858, probate authority was vested in the '''Principal Probate Registry''' system. For more information, scroll to the '''Post-1857 Probate Records''' section at the bottom of the page. | ||
Once you have answered the two questions and determine the | Once you have answered the two questions and determine the courts, look for indexes. Indexes will be found on the individual court pages or in the '''Probate Indexes''' section below.<br><br> | ||
== Kent Probate Courts == | == Kent Probate Courts == | ||