England, Kent, Wills and Probate - FamilySearch Historical Records/Known Issues

Question 1
Question 1: I get a message “Image not Available” for these records even when I am signed in. How can I view these records? Answer 1: FamilySearch has limited rights, granted by the record custodians, to publish images from the England, Kent, Wills and Probate, 1440-1881 collection for viewing online. Images for this collection are only available for viewing to members of the sponsoring organization (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), and at FamilySearch Centers. It is important to check with your FamilySearch Centerbefore your visit, to verify that the center is equipped with the capability to view these restricted images on www.familysearch.org.

For those in the United Kingdom, images may also be viewed by visiting the Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone, England.

If you have a Church Member account and are not able to view images after signing in, it may be due to a registration problem, not an image access problem. Please call 1-866-406-1830 1-866-406-1830  FREE   in the United States, or contact [mailto:support@familysearch.org support@familysearch.org]. Please include a brief description of the problem and steps taken thus far to resolve the issue.

In the case of Kent, Wills and Probate, 1440-1881 records, each religious entity dictates who may view the records. Archdeaconry and Diocese of Canterbury: FamilySearch has rights to publish images online to users from the supporting organization, (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) and at FamilySearch Centers. Exceptions: Miscellaneous Court Papers and Miscellaneous Court Papers Index (Registered Users, FamilySearch Centers and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Archdeaconry and Diocese of Rochester: FamilySearch has rights to publish images online to Registered Users, FamilySearch Centers and members of the supporting organization Exempt Deanery of Shoreham FamilySearch has rights to publish images online to users from the supporting organization, (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) and at FamilySearch Centers. Peculiar of the Rector of Cliffe FamilySearch has rights to publish images online to users from the supporting organization, (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) and at FamilySearch Centers.

Question 2
Question 2: I am unable to view images which were previously available. Is there a reason for that? Answer 2: In August 2011, a new agreement was signed restricting access to images older than 100 years. If even one image on a film exceeds the 100 year cutoff, the entire film is restricted. Many older films contained multiple items and year ranges. FamilySearch, however, has other resources which are available to all researchers. These online records, and many others for this area, are available on microfilm which can be viewed at the FamilySearch Library or some FamilySearch Centers.


 * Go to England, Kent, Wills and Probate - FamilySearch Historical Records article.


 * Go to England, Kent, Wills and Probate, 1440-1881 collection at FamilySearch.org.