Wills and related records are a popular source of information for family
historian, revealing valuable details of ancestor's lives, families, livelihoods
and even personalities.
This practical and accessible guide shows how to get the most from these
seemingly complex records, including those scattered in church courts before
central registration was introduced in 1858. Suitable both for those starting
out and for more experienced researchers, 'Wills and Probate Records' explores
document and institution, legal terms and Latin phrases, as well as navigating
the rapidly expanding online resources that have transformed family history
research.
The wills of historical celebrities, from Jane Austen to Emma Hamilton,
combine with new and intriguing case studies to bring the intricacies of wills
and probate vividly to life.
Written by legal records experts and advisers of family history, this second
edition is fully revised, up to the minute and packed with helpful advice. From
wills and death duty registers to inventories and litigation, 'Wills and Probate
Records' is an invaluable guide to your ancestor's last documents.
Contents:
Acknowledgements
Using The National Archives
Introduction
1. Understanding Wills
- Why Wills Matter
- What is a Will?
- The Origin of Wills
- The Probate Process
- Which Probate Court?
- Case Study
2. Wills and Administrations From 1858
- The Probate Act 1857
- Wills Proved in England and Wales
- Obtaining a Copy of a Will
- The Court of Probate
- Location of Records
- Estates Without Next of Kin
- Resealing in London of Scottish and Irish Wills
- Wills of the Royal Family
- Case Study
3. Finding a Will Before 1858
- Online Search
Strategies
- Records Held Locally
- Ecclesiastical Courts
- Which Ecclesiastical Court?
- Prerogative Court of York
- Prerogative Court of Canterbury
- Types of Records
- Other Prerogative Court of Canterbury Sources
- Interregnum
- Other Testamentary Jurisdictions
- Non-Anglican Wills
- Extending Your Search
- Case Studies
4. Administrations Before 1858
- Intestacy
- The
Records
- Finding an Administration
- Additional Information
from Administrations
- Administration Bonds
- Special or Limited
Administrations
- Administrations Granted as Part of Probate
5.
Interpreting Wills
- Drafting a Will
- How Were Wills
Recorded?
- Likely Contents of a Will
- Validity
- People Unable to Leave a Valid Will
- Reading Wills
6. Inventories and Accounts
- What are Inventories?
-
What are Accounts?
- Litigation
- Debt
- Finding Inventories and Accounts
- Reading Inventories
8. Death Duty Registers 1796-1903
- Introduction to 'Death
Duties'
- Short Cuts to Wills and Administrations
- Death Duty Registers as Sources
- Legacy Duty (from 1796)
- Succession Duty (from 1853)
- Estate Duty (from 1894)
- The
Layout of the Registers
- Related Records at the National Archives
- Case Study
9. Other Probate Records
- Military Wills and Powers of
Attorney
- Deeds
- The royal household
- Overseas Probate
Courts
- Royal Wills
- Miscellaneous Series at the National Archives
- Other Major
Probate Collections
- Case Studies
10. Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands
-
Scottish Probate Records
- Irish Probate Records
- Isle of Man Wills
- Channel Island Wills
11. Research
Techniques
- Wills Before 1858
- Wills After 1858
- Death Duties
- Intestacy
Appendix 1. The National Archives' Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PROB) Series
Appendix 2:
Glossary
Useful Addresses and Websites
Further Reading
Index
