ROOT & GENEALOGY · Content updated on · Editorial method and sources
The official probate search service covers England and Wales for deaths after 1857. It locates grants of representation and a will where one is included. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate research routes.
The method, step by step
- Start from documented death, last residence and name variants. For records from 1858 to 1996, filing follows the year the grant was issued, not necessarily the death year. If the person is absent from the latter, check subsequent years.
- Read the grant type before looking for a will. Probate and Admon with Will differ from Administration (Admon) or Grant, which does not contain a will. Keep the exact English wording alongside your explanation.
- Separate will date, death and grant date. Record residence, occupation and people handling the estate where stated. An executor or beneficiary may be a professional, friend or institution: the role itself is not proof of kinship.
- When reading the full document, check stated relationships and described property; keep both the search entry reference and the document reference. Copying costs and procedures are those published by the official service when you enquire.
Read the records and build the connection
| Record element | What to record and check |
|---|---|
| Grant date | Search the filing year and compare the stated death date. |
| Grant type | Keep Probate, Admon with Will and Administration distinct. |
| People and roles | Distinguish deceased, executor, administrator and beneficiary. |
- Death and residence
- Grant year
- Type and full record
Tick items as you read. Ticks remain only on this page and disappear when it is reloaded.
Record in your research log
- Grant date
- Grant type
- People and roles
Frequently asked questions
Should an English probate be searched in the death year?
For 1858–1996 records, filing follows the grant year. Check subsequent years if missing from the death year and keep the two dates separate.
Sources & references
- HM Courts & Tribunals Service — Search probate records ↗ (Resource review date : )