Wills and probate records in England offer rich genealogical insights, especially from the 16th century onward. Until 1858, probate was managed by ecclesiastical courts—most notably the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) for wealthier individuals—before the civil Principal Probate Registry centralized the process. Post-1858 wills and grants of probate are well indexed and often digitized. Wills typically include the deceased’s residence, heirs, executors, and property, illuminating family structures and inheritance patterns. Earlier documents may reside in county record offices or the National Archives. For genealogists, English wills are invaluable for confirming lineage, identifying relationships, and locating ancestral properties, particularly in periods when civil registration and census records are unavailable or incomplete.
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Government, Land, Court & Wills
Wills & Probates
- England & Wales, Index of Wills and Probates, 1853-1943 10,295,248 records
- England & Wales, Wills and Probate Administrations, 1996-2023 7,326,033 records
- England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Index of Will Registers, 1384-1858 979,653 records
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