Genealogy Chat

Thankyou Merry

I can tell you will be just fine! Merry

Probably a good idea to give them a ring in case you need to book a time. Usually they are on fiches which need viewers and they might all be in use. Other than that, yes! just go and ask. To answer Sue's question - the Probate calendars are continuing to the present day! How recent a reference you are able to view depends on when the Record Office updated their copy. Its also important to remember that wills can sometimes be proved years after the death - not often but it does happen. If you know the date of death and are reasonably sure they left a will you can send £5 to York and they will search a couple of years for you (not sure how many). Anne

LOL Merry, I'll look through my collection of anoraks then.... Sarah :-)

Sue.....a will is a public document as soon as the probate has been granted. That can take a varying length of time....... Sarah - sorry, yes....CRO = County Record Office.,......two fingered typing! I often just hope peeps will know what I'm on about! LOL Yes, just go in there and say, ''I've never been to a CRO before.....how do I look at the NPC??'' (you know what that is!....say it in full though!) They will help you................ Maybe I should nudge my thread about what to wear at a CRO??!! LOL Merry

How long after a person dies can you do a search for a will if there is one?

Sorry for being thick - yes Merry did tell me how but CRO & National Probate Calendar are new terms for me & .... well... ok, I'm thick! I'm guessing CRO is County Records Office? Do I just go in and ask to see the National (or local) Probate Calendar then? Sarah (feeling dimmer than usual)

Hi Sarah, Merry gave you all the info you need. I'm sure the RO in Exeter will have copies of the Probate Calendar. Anne

Sarah I actually looked up the will at the National Archives,where they have the will index from 1858-1943 on fiche. Might be worth you asking Exeter whether they have the same. I know a lot of local records offices just have the index for their area, but some have the national one. Just ask them!

Um.....well.....see posting number 2!!! At the CRO you can lookat the Nat Probate Calender......It's in alphabetical order for each year for post 1858 wills..... Ummmmm......can't think what else to say! Merry

nudge for new title

Just wanted to say a 'public' THANK YOU! to Ann. She went there today and found the Will's information for me so I've just stuck down the envelope to York asking for a copy! Ann, if you read this, (or anyone else that knows) how did you go about finding the Will? I'm going to be in Devon (where the other half of the family are from) in August and would like to do a bit of snooping about with Wills & Parish records. Where do I start? Exeter is closer than Plymouth for me. Sarah :-)

Thanks Ann, Fingers crossed! Sarah :-)

Sarah OK, will PM you. Might not be for a few days - depends when I can get to the records office.

Oh that's great Ann, I'm off to bed now, it's late here, I'll check this in the morning Thanks a million for your information, Will you pm me if you find anything??? Sarah :-)

Sarah I think my reply on Records and your reply on here must have been almost simultaneous! If he left a will (and for this time, it's quite a big if, unless he was relatively wealthy), the will index will just give the basics, ie his name, address, and who his executor was, and some idea of the size of the estate. Then you would be able to order the actual will from York. The info you gave is fine.

Thanks again Merry, I've just put it on the RO board then came back here & saw Ann's great offer!!! That'll be FAB Ann, Do you have enough information? What do you think you'll find? - sorry that sound's stupid - I mean, will you be able to find a ref (like GRO) & then I'll order a copy or will you be able to see the will? Sarah :-)

Sarah I'll look it up for you, if you want! Ann

I would put a thread on the RO board asking if anyone can do a lookup for you?......There are a couple of threads offering lookups, but they are old ones....... Merry

Thanks Merry, So that means that I can't do anything from here for my Charles Baker? (I'm in France) there's nothing to trawl online :-(( Sarah :-( I've studiously copied your info though for ref.