English probate records

[SarahND]

Hello all,
I'm wondering if anyone has ordered 20th century probate records from the Court of Probate and what, exactly, one gets for the money. I think I understand from the explanation on the National Archives site that the actual inventories and distribution of property are not included, just the will and death duty information. Is this correct?

I'm interested in a 1921 death, where I know there was a will because it is in the online index, as well as a 1945 death, where I'm unclear whether there was a will or not. This last one was of an elderly unmarried woman and I'm hoping to learn the whereabouts of her nieces and nephews, assuming they would be her most likely heirs. Any chance that I could learn this information from the papers supplied by the Probate Registry?

Thanks for any light you can shed on the subject,
Sarah

[Currie]

Hello Sarah,

I’ve never applied for a 20th Century Will but a few years ago I received copies of some from an English cousin. I don’t know whether he got those online or whether he went to the place that keeps them, but I suspect the latter. He would have sent me all the paperwork he received.

Some of the wills have the addresses of the beneficiaries and some just have the relationship.

I’ve copied a couple hereunder. The document for the intestate widow mentions two children who were granted Letters of Administration but hints that there may be more entitled to a share. The second, for a testate spinster, gives the address of the executors but only in the probate document. I edited the names and addresses to protect the innocent or whoever.

Hope that helps,
Alan

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In His Majesty’s High Court of Justice
The Principal Probate Registry

BE IT KNOWN that C* A* S* S* of 60 T* Avenue Streatham London died there on the 27th day of September 1946 intestate a widow

AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN that at the date hereunder written Letters of Administration of all the Estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the said intestate were granted by His Majesty’s High Court of Justice at the Principal Probate Registry thereof to W* R* S* of 47a O* Road Balham London Timber Merchant the lawful Son and G* I* C* G* of 60 T* Avenue Streatham London (wife of H* C* G*) the lawful daughter and two of the persons entitled to share in the estate of the said Intestate.

And it is hereby certified that an Affidavit for Inland Revenue has been delivered wherein it is shown that the gross value of the said Estate in Great Britain (exclusive of what the said deceased may have been possessed of or entitled to as a trustee and not beneficially) amounts to £1230-6-7 and that the net value of the personal estate amounts to £

Dated the 8th day of November 1946 ............................Registrar

Extracted by Henre Saw & Co 4 Drapers Gardens Throgmorton Avenue London E.C.2.


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DEATH ON OR AFTER 1st January 1898
Will

BE IT KNOWN that R* H* S* of 53 M* Road Brixton in the County of Surrey Spinster died on the 17th day of March 1929 at Lambeth Hospital Lambeth in said County

AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN that at the date hereunder written the last Will and Testament of the said deceased was proved and registered in the Principal Probate Registry of His Majesty’s High Court of Justice, and that administration of all the estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the said deceased was granted by the aforesaid Court to S* J* S* of 64 H* Street Brixton aforesaid Funeral Furnisher Brother and F* M* S* of 53 M* Road aforesaid Spinster sister of deceased the executors named in the said Will

Dated the 12th day of July 1929
Gross value of Estate £1226-2-11
Net value of Personal Estate £1176-15-11


THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me R* H* S* of 53 M* Road Brixton in the County of London Spinster First I revoke all Wills Codicils or Testamentary dispositions heretofore made by me I appoint my Brother S* J* S* and my sister F* M* S* EXECUTOR EXECUTRIX AND TRUSTEES of this my will I direct that all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses shall be paid as soon as may be after my decease I give to my Brothers R* S* and the said S* J* S* a legacy of fifty pounds a piece free of all duties I give devise and bequeath all the residue of my estate and effects whether real or personal unto my Trustees Upon Trust that they shall sell call in and convert the same into money and shall stand possessed of the proceeds of such sale and conversion In trust for my two sisters the said F* M* S* and E* J* S* in equal shares but if only one of them shall survive me then in trust for the survivor of my said sisters absolutely WITNESS my hand this twenty second day of March one thousand nine hundred and twenty three – R* H* S* – SIGNED by the testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us both present at the same time who at her request in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
- S E BROWN Milners Building 94 Moorgate London E C Solicitor
- PERCY S TEMPEST Cashier to Messrs Watkins Phipas & Brown Solicitors 94 Moorgate E C 2

Proved 12th July 1929

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[SarahND]

Thanks, Alan
That does help. I was afraid that the death duty information would just be numbers, rather than names, but it looks like it might be worth shelling out the money on the chance that names will be mentioned. I've exhausted most other avenues to find out about this family.

Cheers,
Sarah