Kent Probate Records

For an explanation of probate records in England, click here.

Return to the main Kent page.

Kent Probate Courts
The following probate courts had some jurisdiction over the county of Kent prior to 1858:


 * Court of the Bishop of Canterbury
 * Court of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury
 * Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester
 * Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Deaneries of the Arches, Croydon and Shoreham
 * Court of the Peculiar of the Rector of Cliffe
 * Court of the Exempt Jurisdiction of Wingham
 * Court of the Prior and Chapter of Christ Church, Canterbury
 * Court of the Bishop of London
 * Prerogative Court of Canterbury

Some Explanatory Notes on the Courts in Kent
The Court of the Archdeacon of Canterbury, the Court of the Episcopal consistory of Canterbury, and the Court of the Bishop and the Archdeacon of Rochester technically did not have jurisdiction over the Peculiar of Wingham, the Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Episcopal Consistory and Archdeaconry of Rochester, but as the larger courts of original jurisdiction in the county they will often contain probate records of persons who resided in the other jurisdictions. In 1846 the diocese of Rochester was reduced in area. Some parishes were transferred to the diocese of Canterbury and others to the diocese of London.

In the diocese of Canterbury, the Commissary-General exercised probate jurisdiction within the diocese. He also exercised the Archbishop’s prerogative throughout the diocese, and prerogative probate records exist from 1397 to about 1759 in the records of the Court of the Episcopal Consistory of Canterbury. The Court of the Provost of the College of Wingham was closed in 1547. After that date wills of residents living in the parishes of this jurisdiction are found in the records of the Court of the Episcopal Consistory of Canterbury.

Kent Parishes and Their Probate Jurisdictions
This list of Kent parishes contains a prioritized list of courts with jurisdiction over each parish. Click on the letter the parish name begins with to see which courts to search for probates of persons living in or owning property in that parish.

Probate Indexes
Before searching probate records, search indexes.

Indexes on the Internet
Here is a list of indexes on the Internet for the county of Kent.

Printed Indexes
If the indexes on the Internet do not produce possible wills for your ancestors, look in the published indexes listed here. The links are to their listings in the Family History Library Catalog:

Post-1857 Probate Records
Beginning in 1858, the government took over the settlement of estates and all wills are now probated through the Principal Probate Registry system. The system consists of 11 district registry offices and 18 sub-district registries, located throughout England and Wales, and the principal registry office located in London. The records are available through the office of Her Majesty's Courts Service. To learn more, go to the HMCS website.

A country-wide surname index to the records is available, so it is much easier to look for post-1857 wills. The indexes for 1858-1957 and the records for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.