England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations - FamilySearch Historical Records

England

Wales

What is in This Collection?
This collection is the National Probate Calendar for England and Wales, it is an index to wills and administrations from 1858-1957. The calendar was created by the Principal Probate Registry, which was established in London in 1858.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Index
 * Name
 * Beneficiary
 * Place of residence
 * Occupation
 * Marital status
 * Date of death
 * Place of death
 * Names of administrators or executors
 * Place of probate

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching, it is best to know the following information:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of death

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * If possible, look at an image of the original record. The original may contain information that was not recorded in the index
 * Use the death date and place to search for death information in church or civil records. Church records are reliable for death information prior to 1837, when civil registration began, but many events were not recorded in civil records until 1874.
 * Use the death place and date to search for the individual in censuses. Census records began in 1801.

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Check for other names. An individual might have been listed under a middle name, a nickname, or an abbreviation of their given name
 * Search civil registration and census records using the information you know

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in England. The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Wales.
 * England Guided Research
 * England Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Wales Guided Research
 * Wales Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.