Wills and administrations can be classed into two main categories before 1858 and after 1858 By far the most simple are the ones after 1858
For England and Wales these have all been proved in civil courts either the Principal Registry in London or District Registries. But they are all indexed together and called calendars and are kept at First Avenue House 42-49 High Holborn London WC1V 6NP [opening hours 10.00 am –4.30pm Mon-Fri]. This is conveniently situated between Holborn and Chancery Lane underground stations. In the search room you will find the books of Probate index’s from 1858 until today. The late ones are on computer. From 1858 until 1870 wills and administrations are in separate books but after that they are combined. The index’s contain basic facts of death and the executor You are able to look at the index’s for free but have to pay to see the will and also to get copies which can be then posted to you. Micro-fiche copies of the index’s [usually up to 1943] are also available in some larger public libraries, county record offices, Family Record Centre, Guildhall Library and the Society of Genealogists. Copies can then be obtained from The Postal Searches and Copies Department , The Probate Registry, Duncombe Place, York YO1 2EA at present the fee is £6 for each will
Before 1858 wills were proved in church courts. The Prerogative Court of Canterbury [PCC] and The Prerogative Court of York [PCY] dealing with the north and south of the country. This is the Archbishops Court . Then comes The Bishops Court then the Archdeacons Court then the Peculiar or Local Courts A Peculiar was an area exempt from the church. The earlier ones are in Latin
The ruling was if the person had goods in one archdeaconary only it was then proved on that court. If in more than one area then the Bishops court was used and if in more than one diocese then the PCC or PCY was used but these rulings were not always adhered to
PCC records are at the PRO at Kew and on film at the Family Records Centre 1 Myddleton Street in central London
PCY records are at the Borthwick Institute York. Other early wills are to be found in many places i.e. County Record Offices and Universities are the main examples Also the Society of Genealogists has a very large collection of indexes
Wales is in the court of Canterbury and records are at the National Library of Wales
The Isle of Man is separate and holds its own records from 1847 which are at The Manx museum Library Douglas. The only exceptions are where the person had property outside the island. Before 1847 it was part of PCY and some records are at York and some on the island
Channel Islands. Jersey records are at Judicial Greffe Royal Court Jersey. Guernsey including Alderney Sark Herm and Jethou are at The Ecclesiastical Court of the Bailiwick of Guernsey Bureau des Connetables St Peter Port Guernsey
Scotland. Before 1823 records are at the Scottish Record Office Edinburgh. From 1823 until 1876 some are at the Scottish record Office and others at the Sheriffs courts. From 1876 they are at the Record Office again
Ireland. After 1858 the records are at the National Archives Bishops Street Dublin 8. Unfortunately the Public record Office of Ireland was gutted and a lot of wills and administrations were destroyed although the index’s survived
Northern Ireland. Public Record Office of Northern Ireland 66 Balmoral Avenue Belfast BT9 6NY holds index’s from 1858 including a few from the Irish Republic
Most wills are fascinating and are well worth searching out. They can give a lot of family detail but you do get the ones that tell you almost nothing. It is well worth getting the inventory if its available as this will tell you something about the household goods they possessed
With administrations don’t be tempted to send for a copy as you will only get a copy of the entry in the indexes