Somerset Probate Records

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

Court Jurisdictions

Before 1858, every town and parish in Somerset was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary ecclesiastical court and one or more secondary ecclesiastical courts.  When looking for the probate records for an ancestor, find his/her place of residence in the list, and search the courts in the order given.  Search indexes first.  For indexes, click on the name of a court or see the indexes listed below.

For other place names, click on a letter link:

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)
Alford	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Wells	2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
Aller	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Wells	2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
Angersleigh	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Taunton	2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
Ansford	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Wells	2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
Ash	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Wells	2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
Ash Priors	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Taunton	2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
Ashbrittle	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Taunton	2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
Ashcott	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Wells	2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
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)
Ashwick	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Wells	2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)
Axbridge	Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Wells	2 - Court of the Bishop of Bath and Wells (Episcopal Consistory)

Probate Indexes Online

Before looking for a will, you should search an index.

http://www.gomezsmart.myzen.co.uk/

For wills or probate on this website look under Property
This site is concerned with family and social history in the Hundred of Frome. This consisted of the parishes of Beckington, Berkley, Cloford, Elm, Frome Selwood, Laverton, Lullington, Marston Bigot, Nunney, Orchardleigh, Rode (Road), Rodden, Standerwick, Wanstrow, Whatley and Woolverton. It also included the adjacent Liberties of East Cranmore, Leigh upon Mendip, Mells and Witham Friary and the Peculiar of Buckland Dinham (see map). 

http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/Wills.htm

Information about Somerset Probate Records

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.