how to trace a last will & testament?

Question

relatives died in April 1975 & October 1987

This is a UK search - both were UK citizens and were born & died in the UK.
I have one death certificate. I do not require answers that relate to overseas searches. Many Thanks

Answer 1

You need to speak to the Probate Registry. Postal enquiries are dealt with from York, but there are different sub-registry offices across the UK where you can search the national yearly indexes from the present day backwards to 1858 and then order a copy of anything you find (cost is abt £5), but I believe you have to wait for the will itself.

Personal visits can be made here (phone before visiting):

Birmingham : The Priory Courts, 33 Bull Street, B4 6DU
Tel [phone]

Brighton : William Street, BN2 2LG
Tel [phone]

Bristol : The Crescent Centre, Temple Back,BS1 6EP
Tel [phone]

Cardiff : 2 Park Street, CF10 1TB
Tel [phone]

Ipswich : Ground Floor, 8 Arcade Street, Ipswich, IP1 1EJ
Tel [phone]

Leeds : 3rd Floor, Coronet House, Queen Street, LS1 2B4
Tel [phone]

Liverpool : Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts, Derby Square, L2 1XA
Tel [phone]

London : The Record Keeper, Principal Registry of the Family Division, First Avenue House, 42 - 49 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NP
Tel [phone]

Manchester : 9th Floor, Astley House, Quay Street, M3 4AT
Tel [phone]

Newcastle Upon Tyne : 2nd Floor, Plummer House, Croft St, NE1 6NP
Tel [phone]

Oxford : Oxford Combined Court Building, St. Aldates, Oxford. OX1 1LY Tel [phone]

Winchester : 4th Floor, Cromwell House, Andover Road, SO23 7EW
Tel [phone]

Postal applications and requests for searches should be made to:

The Postal Searches & Copies Dept, York Probate Sub-Registry, Castle Chambers, Clifford Street, York, YO1 9RG

(download a form here: http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/courtfinder/forms/pa1s_0405.pdf)

NB: It takes SIX weeks on average for a postal search, sometimes longer.

Answer 2

~If it was probated, it will be on file with the court wherein probate took place. If it was not, the statute of limitations has undoubtedly run on the estates and it really doesn't matter if you find any wills or not. Some (very few) testators file wills prior to death, with either the court responsible in their jurisdiction for estates and trusts and/or with the county clerk. Smart people leave their wills with the lawyers who drafted them for safe-keeping and the draftsman should retain a copy. If you know who the lawyer was, you might be able to get a copy barring any possible breach of confidentiality and assuming the files have not been purged. If an original was located or cannot be found, there is no will and the laws of intestate succession will dictate distribution of the estate. If you had any stake in the estate, either by will or right of intestate succession, you would have been notified at the time of probate or administration.

Answer 3

If you live in Birmingham you can go to the library and look up the Wills indexes yourself, then apply for a copy of the Will. There are probably other Central libraries with Wills Indexes and I've found it useful to plough through the books doing a one-name search - surprising how many kith and kin actually left a Will of sorts.

Answer 4

If the will was probated, you can contact the County Court Clerk where your relatives died.
If the will was not probated, there will be no record of it.

Answer 5

Call the court in the county of the state they died in. You may have to send a small fee and they will tell you how much and were to send it.

Answer 6

You dont say which country you live in or which country the person who died registered the will in, this is a link to a UK company that will find the will for you.
http://www.ukcertificates.com/probate/?gclid=CMiU_--Zxo0CFQNQEgodJCbdLw
hope that helps.