Family Historian User Group

For those with access to ancestry.co.uk the following is fairly new and looks useful:

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1861-1941

This collection contains summaries of the vast majority of probate cases in England and Wales between 1861 and 1941. It effectively forms an index to wills and probate records for this period.

The information in the images generally includes the date of death (one as early as 1699!), and sometimes the place of death, as well as the individual's residence, and names of executors, sometimes with indication of relationship to the deceased.  Many records include the total value of effects in pounds shillings and pence.

ID:4803

This index allowed me to find a will that went to Probate 17 years after the death. I had looked for one in the annual calendars but hadn't gone on sooooo long!

I sent for it and it solved a major, longstanding brick wall in my tree!

Don't expect a quick return of your will - I think they are innundated at York. Mine took about 7 weeks but it was worth the wait and a bargain at £5!

Anne

Anne is right about the time it takes. My first one arrived after six weeks and am still waiting after 7 for the next one. A pre-recorded telephone message says 'unexpectedly high demand has led to....' They must have been aware that Ancestry were doing this and they should have been aware of what always happens when a new set of records is released. Who wants to bet that the next step is a huge increase in the cost?

Actually, I'm not sure that they would have known Ancestry were doing this. I've seen it suggested that the fiches were bought from a FH society, as a certain society's set of fiches were missing the first so many years - just like Ancestry's are. Since Crown copyright does not last for ever (only 50y according to Wikipedia), it may be that Ancestry were not bound to ask.

As for a price increase - probably - though I for one think they are currently bargains compared to certificates, and I think there's a lot more manual work needed to run off each will. Besides - the department isn't there to subsidise my hobby - sadly!

Crown copyright is still in effect according to the Ancestry page about this,

'Original data: Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. London, England © Crown copyright.'

It also has a link to the Probate Registry website

I applied for a Will by post to York on 30 August. Still waiting... (though the cheque was cashed on 8 September)

I think the next lot will have to save up for a day when I am in London during the week as if you can apply in person to the Probate Office in Holborn (only open Mon-Fri) the copy usually arrives in the post the next day (or within 2 hours if you don't mind waiting to collect from the office) & costs the same.