Applying for a copy of a Will

[Jenny M Benson]

A man died in 1852, leaving a Will. Probate was granted that year by
the Consistory Court of Chester but Administration of the estate was not
completed. The National Probate Calendar has an entry showing this and
that Administration (with Will) was granted in 1887.

I tried to order a copy of this Will online by using the Government's
Probate Search Service website but not matter how much or how little
information provided the search is unsuccessful.

Is there any way round this to order online, or must I go through the
faff of downloading the requisite form, ordering by post with a cheque
(I just about remember when we used to use those!) and waiting for maybe
4 weeks?

[Charles Ellson]

On Thu, 14 Jul 2022 23:30:29 +0100, Jenny M Benson

Post by Jenny M Benson
A man died in 1852, leaving a Will. Probate was granted that year by
the Consistory Court of Chester but Administration of the estate was not
completed. The National Probate Calendar has an entry showing this and
that Administration (with Will) was granted in 1887.
I tried to order a copy of this Will online by using the Government's
Probate Search Service website but not matter how much or how little
information provided the search is unsuccessful.
Is there any way round this to order online, or must I go through the
faff of downloading the requisite form, ordering by post with a cheque
(I just about remember when we used to use those!) and waiting for maybe
4 weeks?

His name, death date etc. ?
Has the index page got any manuscript notes beside the entry?

Have you got as far as seeing the Administration document?
Does it merely refer to the original will rather than having an
accompanying copy?

[tahiri]

A man died in 1852, leaving a Will.  Probate was granted that year by
the Consistory Court of Chester but Administration of the estate was not
completed.  The National Probate Calendar has an entry showing this and
that Administration (with Will) was granted in 1887.
I tried to order a copy of this Will online by using the Government's
Probate Search Service website but not matter how much or how little
information provided the search is unsuccessful.
Is there any way round this to order online, or must I go through the
faff of downloading the requisite form, ordering by post with a cheque
(I just about remember when we used to use those!) and waiting for maybe
4 weeks?

The probatesearch website has been 'erratic' (I am being tactful) since
it's last revamp. However you do not need to find your 'admon with will'
on their site if you have the details from any of the other sites which
have copies of the probate calendars. Just search for any old name to
get to their order form and then fill in all the details. If they can't
find it then send them a screenshot of the entry on FMP, or wherever you
got the details, and they should miraculously find it. One improvement
is that in the list of your orders on the site they now have a 'contact
us' icon on every entry. So if they produce just the grant and no will
for example (just had one of those) you email straight back and they add
it to the list.
Good luck.
(If you have not logged in to their site since the revamp you will need
a new password. They didn't transfer the old ones.)

[Peter Johnson]

On Fri, 15 Jul 2022 11:03:35 +0100, tahiri

Post by tahiri
The probatesearch website has been 'erratic' (I am being tactful) since
it's last revamp.

When I asked why it was necessary to go through the Advanced Search
dialogue for every search, even if you didn't want to perdorm an
Advanced Search, I was quite surprised to get a reply, which told me
that it is a feature. I didn't get a reply to my reply saying in that
case is isn't a very useful feature most of the time.
(I didn't get any replies to messages that said while the old site
wasn't perfect, it was useable, but that the new one is rubbish.)

[Jenny M Benson]

Post by tahiri
The probatesearch website has been 'erratic' (I am being tactful) since
it's last revamp.

Your solution to applying for the document I wanted was spot on. Pity
HM Gov are nowhere near as efficient. The documents they supplied
related to a person with a difference forename who died in a different
county over 65 years later and whose Probate was granted over 30 years
after my man's!

[tahiri]

Post by tahiri
The probatesearch website has been 'erratic' (I am being tactful)
since it's last revamp.

Your solution to applying for the document I wanted was spot on.  Pity
HM Gov are nowhere near as efficient.  The documents they supplied
related to a person with a difference forename who died in a different
county over 65 years later and whose Probate was granted over 30 years
after my man's!

I said the 'contact us' icon would be useful! Since the last ones I
ordered still say 'documents pending' I expect I shall be using it
myself before long.