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== Getting Started in Probate Records == | == Getting Started in Probate Records == | ||
''Probate'' is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. The Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process prior to 1858. To look for a probate record for your ancestor, start by discovering where he or she died. If you don’t know, look in the place where they lived or had property. Once you have a place, scroll down to the Court Jurisdictions section and click a letter or span of letters covering the place name. | ''Probate'' is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. The Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process prior to 1858. To look for a probate record for your ancestor, start by discovering where he or she died. If you don’t know, look in the place where they lived or had property. Once you have a place, scroll down to the Court Jurisdictions section and click a letter or span of letters covering the place name. Once you do, a table appears showing places in the left column and the courts having jurisdiction to the right. Click on the name of the court to learn more about using its records. | ||
Beginning in 1858, authority over probate matters was taken from ecclesiastical courts and put under the civil authority of the Principal Probate Registry. The Post-1857 Probate Records section below contains links to additional information about the records of this court. <br><br> | Beginning in 1858, authority over probate matters was taken from ecclesiastical courts and put under the civil authority of the Principal Probate Registry. The Post-1857 Probate Records section below contains links to additional information about the records of this court. <br><br> | ||