Westmorland Probate Records

England Westmoreland

The following text has information about probate records in the county of Westmoreland. To read general information English probate records click here.

Westmorland Probate Courts
The courts that had jurisdiction over the county were:


 * Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Western Deaneries - Kendal
 * Court of the Bishop of Carlisle (Episcopal Consistory)
 * Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Ravenstonedale
 * Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Temple Sowerby

In addition, the Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury had jurisdiction over the whole of England. Wealthier individuals, people who owned property in more than one county or lower court's jurisdiction, and Naval personnel often had their estates proven through the Archbishop's court.

Appeals Courts
Any probate that was disputed and could not be settled by the county courts could be sent to these higher appeals courts:


 * Court of Arches
 * High Court of Delegates

Court Jurisdictions
Before 1858, every town and parish in Westmorland was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. When looking for a will of an ancestor in Westmorland, search the courts in the order given. Search indexes first. For indexes, click on the court name links above.

Here is a list of Westmorland towns and parishes beginning with the letter A. For other places, click on a letter link:  B, C, D-G, H, K, L, M, N-R, S, T-Z.

Probate Indexes Online
Before looking for a will, you should search an index. http://www.uclan.ac.uk/ahss/education_social_sciences/history/probate_index.php

An index of wills and related documents covering Lancashire north of the Ribble, and parts of Cumberland, Westmorland and Yorkshire, 1748-1858.

An index of all surviving probate documents for the Western Deaneries of the Archdeaconry of Richmond, 1748-1858 has been prepared. The deaneries included are Amounderness, Copeland, Furness, Kendal and Lonsdale.

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.