Genealogy Chat

Is it possible to obtain a copy of a will without knowing the address that that person lived at when he died? I only know the name, quarter in which they died and the area the death was registered in. Thank you Lyndsey

You can obtain wills which went to probate after 1857, from York. Just put 'wills' in the search box above these threads and you will find the details. You can have a search made over a few years (?5?) for your £5. You could also look up the probate record yourself at most county archives. This would make sure there actually was a will and might save your £5 if one was not made! You can then send to York knowing that there really is a record. Anne

Thanks Anne I know this person definitely left a will. I just don’t have the exact date of death or the address at that time. I’ve found the website of the probate office in York where you have to apply to but can’t find anything about it in the notes. Lyndsey

Hi Lyndsey I am a Probate Solicitor and you can write to any probate office, i use Cardiff Probate Registry, if you know the date of death and the surname is unusual, they can usually find the correct one without the address, if the surname is not unusual, they will usually require more information, it costs £5.00 for a standard 3 year search and then an additional £3.00 for each 3 year period thereafter so if he died in say 1960 but the will didnt go to probate until 1969 then the fee would be £11.00 if you want you can ring Cardiff Probate Registry, they are extremely helpful and can give you a more accurate figure on the cost of searching, they also use the new Will Finder system which has computerised details going back many years, its still in the virgin stage at the moment but it works quite well best of luck, Stephanie

sorry , cant count tonight, fee would be £9.00 not £11.00

Hi Today, I found my g.grandad died on 10 June 1935 and the probate is dated York 28 June 1935. That seems very quick to me. I thought I'd phone York Probate Registry with name, address and date of death and probate, and ask how much they charge. Do they all charge £5? Liz

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Liz I would personally use Cardiff Probate Registry, they are the quickest Probate Registry to use i believe and no i dont work for them, lol Probate is usually done up to 6 months after date of death, the quickest one i have seen is a week after the £5.00 cheque needs to be made payable to HMCS and they will need the date that the probate was issued and at which registry and the date, they can take up to 3 weeks to come back but Cardiff are really quick stephanie

It averages about 6 weeks at York!, but if you can get to Holborn a cousin of mine gets his in about a week! Its five pounds for a standing search, that covers 4 years search, this starts from the year of death that you give. theres an online form called application for probate http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/HMCSCourtFinder/GetForms.do?court_forms_category=probate but if cardiff are quicker use them rather than York p.s im just rather fed up after hearing that he gets his in a week

Many thanks everybody for your replies. I’ve googled Holborn Probate office and got their telephone number so will ‘phone them in the morning. It is an unusual name so hopefully they will be able to help me. Regards Lyndsey

Hi Just bookmarking. Liz

Another thank you for the tip about Cardiff Probate Office and their fast despatch of wills. I posted my request last Wednesday (7th March) and (despite not having all the details) it arrived today. I am very impressed! Lyndsey

HI Lynsey, i spoke to Leslie Russ at Cardiff probate registry and told him to expect a call - he is extremely helpful stephanie

That was very kind of you, thank you Stephanie. It was a man I spoke to but I don’t think he mentioned his name. I shall be ordering another will soon and will definitely use Cardiff again Lyndsey

Can anyone help me with this subject too... the in's and out's and such.. Steve

nudging this for later - especially as I work in cardiff and it sounds as though Cdf is the place to go!

Another vote for Cardiff, where the staff were really helpful when I rang asking advice re. my aunt's Will, which has not yet gone to Probate after her death in 2004. Gwyn

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Thts a really good tip Stephanie - could you just tell us - what years would cardiff cover - all the same as York Probate?

Funny this thread should come up again today, I've just ordered another will from Cardiff. Glad the thread I started has helped so many people. Lyndsey