For an explanation of probate records in England, click here.
These are the Probate Courts for the parishes A-B. To see other parishes click on the letter that begins the parish name.
C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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| PARISH | PRIMARY COURT | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER |
|---|---|---|
| Abbotsbury | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Affpuddle | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Alderholt | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Allington | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Almer | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Alton Pancras | Court of the Peculiar of the Dean of Salisbury | 2 - Prerogatve Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Arne | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ashmore | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Askerswell | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Athelhampton | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Batcombe | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Beaminster | Court of the Peculiar of the Prebend of Netherbury in Ecclesia | 2 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean of Salisbury
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Beer Hackett | Court of the Peculiar of the Dean of Salisbury | 2 - Prerogatve Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Belchalwell | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Bere Regis | Court of the Peculiar of the Dean of Salisbury | 2 - Prerogatve Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Bettiscombe | Court of the Manor and Liberty of Frampton | 2 - Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset
3 -Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Bincombe | Court of the Manor and Liberty of Frampton | 2 - Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset
3 -Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Blandford Forum | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Blandford St Mary | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Bloxworth | Court of the Peculiar of the Dean of Salisbury | 2 - Prerogatve Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Bothenhampton | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Bourton | Court of the Royal Peculiar of Gillingham | 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Bradford Abbas | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Bradford Peverell | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Bradpole | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Bredy, Long | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Bridport | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Broadmayne | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Broadway | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Broadwindsor | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Bryanston | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Buckhorn Weston | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Buckland Newton | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Buckland Ripers | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Burleston | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Burstock | Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division
3 -Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Burton Bradstock | Court of the Manor of Burton Bradstock | 2 - Court of the Archdeaconry of Dorset
3 -Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory) Dorset Division 4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Burton, Long | Court of the Peculiar of the Dean of Salisbury | 2 - Prerogatve Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
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.