Somerset Probate Records
For an explanation of probate records in England, click here.
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.
| PARISH | PRIMARY COURT | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER |
|---|---|---|
| Aisholt | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Taunton | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Alford | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Wells | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Aller | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Wells | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Allerton, Chapel | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Dean of Wells | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Angersleigh | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Taunton | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ansford | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Wells | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ash | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Wells | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ash Priors | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Taunton | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ashbrittle | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Taunton | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ashcott | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Wells | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ashill | Court of the Peculiar of the Prebend of Ashill | 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ashington | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Wells | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ashton, Long | Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory) | 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ashwick | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Wells | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Axbridge | Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Wells | 2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |