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Wills 1858 to the present From 11 January 1858 England and Wales was divided into civil probate registries, all under the control of the Principal Registry of the Family Division, York Probate Sub-Registry, Duncombe Place, York, Y01 2EA. Annual indexes (called national probate calendars) to wills and letters of administration (admons) have been produced and these can be consulted at First Avenue House. Microfiche copies for the years 1858-1943 are also held at Wolverhampton Archives & Local Studies. Later indexes (except those within the last 50 years) are available at the Local Studies and History Dept, Birmingham Central Library Indexes to wills proved
within the last 50 years for the Wolverhampton area are held at
the Birmingham
District Probate Registry, The probate calendars are arranged by the year in which the will was proved (which may have been some time after the death) and within each year by surname. Before 1870 letters of administration (mainly for people who died without leaving a will) were indexed separately at the end of the volumes. Entries in the probate calendars give a lot of valuable information: the name of the deceased; often his/her occupation; his/her address when the will was made; the date and place of death; the date and court of probate; the names and addresses of the executors, and their relationship to the deceased if stated in the will; the amount of the sworn estate. An entry for an administration for a person who died intestate shows the name and address of the deceased, the date of death; the date and place of the grant and the name of the administrator (often the next of kin). Registered copy wills proved at Birmingham 1858-1941 are held at Birmingham City Archives. Registered copy wills proved at Lichfield 1858-1928 are at the Lichfield Joint Record Office. Wills proved locally during the last 50 years are at the Birmingham District Probate Registry. Copies of the wills at Birmingham District Probate Registry are available for inspection. A guide to obtaining Probate Records is available on the Court Service's web site
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