Genealogy Chat

Hello, Has anyone applied for a will by post to the Postal Searches and Copies Department, The Probate Registry, Castle Chambers, Clifford Street, York, YO1 9RG? I am thinking of applying so would appreciate any advice. Gillian

Don't be too impatient lol (long wait!), but they have always found what I was after! Sarah

Hi Sarah, Thanks for that! What info do they need to do a will search? Gillian

Gillian - you need to give them the name and last known address of the deceased, and date of death if known. If not give them a 3-year range to search. If you have details of when and where probate was granted then give them that. Also you have to send them £5 and this will not be refunded even if they find no will. If you can get to somewhere where you can do the probate search yourself then you can find out whether it will be worth sending off your £5, but of course it could cost you more than that to get to wherever you can search it. (In my case they have the National Probate Calendar on microfiche and in volumes up to the 1960's at my local record office, so now I always check in there before sending off for a will). If the deceased left no will then administration may have been granted on the estate so you would get a letter of administration in that case. Kate.

Thanks for the advice. I live in Paris so cannot search myself. I have the year of death, 1862, and address in Crediton, Devon. He was quite well off so I'm interested to see why his eldest son wasn't!!!! G

You will probably get the will from a postal application then. I'm not sure if you have to pay any extra for it to be sent to France but I'm sure it will tell you on their website. If they find nothing, if you send me the details you have I could search for you in the National Probate Calendar about mid-September when the kids go back to school! Kate.

hi, Kate, i am in Canada, would you be willing to search in september for me if i sent a personal e-mail to you please Jennifer in Ontario

Hi All, Thanks for even more advice!! I found the website with all the probate office addresses and rang the Exeter office. A nice man explained what to do. You send a cheque for £5 with details of name, date of death (exact date if possible) and last known address. If you can supply the exact date of death, this speeds up the search. He also said that a reply could be sent to France at no extra charge!! Gillian

nudge

I got the one I applied for in less than 3 weeks.

Hi, I sent for 3 last week, 2 I definately know are there somewhere, did'nt realise I would have to wait 3 weeks, I was hoping to get them in the post this week :-(( in fact I was waiting for the postman this morning!, worse than waiting for certificates, I'll have no nails left :-/ Maggie

Exeter Probate Office has all the wills for England and wales and I have done look ups for a couple of people to see if the will was there

When I called in there a couple of weeks ago, I was told that it will all be on the web sometime in the near future. Regards - Terry