The Probate Registry in the United Kingdom has reduced the cost to order downloaded copies of probate records and wills in England and Wales from £10 to £1.50. This big drop in price appears to have just happened yesterday.
Genealogists can now order probate records and wills, from 1858 to present, for the equivalent of only $2.45CDN or $1.90US — less than a cup of coffee in most places.
The search engine is easy to use. All you need to do is enter a surname and year of death. Entering a surname only will lead to an error message.
After paying online for your order, you must allow for 10 working days for your documents to be made available. You’ll be able to access the probate and will for 31 days. Not all probate records contain a will.
Requests can also be submitted by mail with a cheque, international money order, or postal order. Response time for mailed requests is about four weeks.
Is that what was going on in the UK Probate Office yesterday! I was trying to find a form entitled Grant of Representation and another file explaining how to fill it in and was sent around in so many circles that it was a wonder my hair had not been depleted to the amount my late husband ended up with.
So very excited about this!! Amazing that they’ve actually lowered the price so significantly – I thought it was a joke at first when I saw it over on Canada’s Anglo-Celtic Connections. There are definitely some probate files/wills I’ve been wanting and now I can afford to buy four for the former price of one 🙂 Even if it turns out there’s no will, at least the money spent doesn’t make it seem like a waste…
Late last year I had ordered a great-great-aunt’s will and the service was very smooth.
Wish it was bdm !!!