Court of the Bishop of Bristol (Episcopal Consistory Court of Bristol, Dorset Genealogy Division)

Dorset Dorset Probate Records

Getting Started
1. First search each index (see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry. 2. Proceed to the "Probate Records Held in This Archive" (below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court. Also see "Probate Records of This Court in The Family History Library". 3. Contact or visit the The Record Office or, hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers. 4. Visit The Family History Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes to probate records; then with the information obtained from the index[es] you can search more quickly the original wills and admons also on microfilm via any centers near you.

Indexes
A calendar of wills and administrations relating to the county of Dorset proved in the Consistory court (Dorsetshire division) of the late diocese of Bristol, 1681-1792. 

Jurisdictions
The Diocese of Bristol was formed in 1542, prior to that year Dorset was in the Diocese of Salisbury. The earliest record of the Episcopal Consistory Court of Salisbury is dated 1526.