User:Skelsey

English probate records are very useful in determing correct family relationships. Locating the place to search for records depends upon where the person lived and/or owned property.

The probate courts were under the control of the Church of England prior to 1858. The major general probate court covering the entire country was the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.

Probates within this court were usually for persons of means or for those who may have owned property in two or more lower courts thus making it a conflict for those two lower courts to handle. Wills and administrations for this court are completely indexed and available on microfilm at the FHL; however these are tedious and time-consuming to search.

Indicies to the wills are now available online at