Episcopal Principal Registry of Exeter

England Devon  Devonshire Probate Records

For a general explanation about England probate records, click here.

Step By Step
Follow these steps to look for a probate record before 1858: 1. Discover when and where your ancestor died. If you don’t know, use the approximate date and place where they lived. 2. Go to the Court Jurisdictions section below. 3. Click a letter or span of letters for your place. This opens an article showing a table of places and the courts that had jurisdiction over them. 4. Follow the steps at the top of the table to search for a will.

Printed and Published Indexes
Calendar of wills and administrations relating to the counties of Devon and Cornwall proved in the Consistory court of the Bishop of Exeter, 1532-1800 Some country-wide indexes are available. See the Manuscript Records subheading in Devonshire Probate Records.

Archive Location
Virtually all records for this court were destroyed in 1942, but don't give up until you have searched the manuscript collections and the Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury. In addition, copies of some post-1796 probates may have been deposited in the Estate Duty Registers.

Archive Records
Add information about the manuscript, printed and digital records in this location.

Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction was limited to probate matters within the Diocese of Exeter.