Genealogy Chat

Hi Angela When a will is proved for probate it becomes public. You should easily be able to get a copy of the will from the Probate Registry. Your local archives should hold the Probate Calendar which is published every year and which has a record of all the wills proved in that year. You have the date of probate from the will, I presume, so it should be no problem. When you have the exact details you can buy a copy of the will for £5 from the postal probate office in York. Anne

Angela A lot of Wills and other old documents are sold on Ebay, so it's always worth a search in the Antique Books and Manuscripts section. You never know when it might be your turn for some more good genealogical luck! Equally a Google search for the surname just might give you a lead. I was told by one person I purchased some old Indentures from that in his area the solicitors know he is a collector and always give him first option on their old documents when they move offices or close down. It's such a shame that this can happen, but I suppose it is better than the destruction of old documents which I recall happening by a certain building society back in the 60s/70s. Good luck Sue

In a similar situation I tried following up the solicitors, but it was fruitless. Solicitors usually don't keep papers more than about 5 years at that period beyond the period they had been paid to keep them (to follow recommendations but not just have heaps of papers). If you know whose will it is and when (if) they died then you could just get the Will from the Principle Probate Registry for a few pounds (but it would be the final version so if this was an earlier Will or a draft you have it might be different). Good luck

Angela, What a lovely Christmas find. As you have the will thats not the problem. I would try the Law Society http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/ they control solicitors and have a records department and can be e-mailed. I'm sure they will advise. Bob

Hi Angela Go to the resource centre on your left. from there go to links, at the bottom is a link to a website regarding wills. Don't know if that will work for you, Elaine x

While I was at home at Christmas my grandmother produced part of a will which she had found when going through some old papers. Unbelivably it gives me the exact date of death of several family members and also the married names of sisters of my great great grandfather. My problem now is that although I have all this information, it'd created more questions than answers. The will seems to be in 2 parts, one from 1925 and the other from 1959. I have looked up the solicitors listed on the will and it doesn't seem to exist anymore. Can anyone help me with - 1. What happens to records from a solicitors when they cease trading? Are they destroyed or sent to a records office? 2. Is the only way I'm going to fill in the gaps to go through 1837 online or has anyone else succeeded by other means?