Fully indexed National Probate Calendar - findmypast

[kiterunner]

Covering the years 1858-1959. These are already available on ancestry, and free on the government site, but Findmypast have indexed the full text (I assume using OCR software), so you can search for the names of executors or administrators (using the "Full Text Search" box), not just the name of the testator. I have been waiting so long for someone to do this! You can also search for addresses.

http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/probate-calendars-of-england-and-wales-1858-1959?_ga=1.106806147.1494116925.1289493982

Please note that the testator's name (i.e the person who died and left a will) will be indexed in the form Surname First Name Middle Name, e.g. Smith John Albert for John Albert Smith. Or if there is no middle name, just Surname First Name. So you will need to search for the name in that format or it won't pick it up. But the executor or administrator's name is indexed in the normal format.

They also have a browse facility, though of course you could just browse on the government website:
http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/probate-calendars-of-england-and-wales-1858-1959---browse?_ga=1.39705123.1494116925.1289493982

Government website, please note the date tabs:
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills

[ElizabethHerts]

This facility is going to be so useful, especially with the more uncommon surnames in my tree.

I have already found a couple of my Quintrells acting as executors.

[Mary from Italy]

Ooh, excellent!

[Mary from Italy]

How interesting! I've just found my grandmother as executrix to a lady I've never heard of.

[Merry]

Fantastic! If only I'd made a list over the years of people to look up!!

[kiterunner]

They have now added 1960 - 2019. It won't include all executors / administrators though because recent years of the National Probate Calendar don't give those details.

[Merry]

I've been meaning to ask this for a few months. Has the searchable database been removed? I looked for it a while ago and thought I was just being stupid when I couldn't find it, but having just searched for this thread I see the first link no longer works.

Any ideas?

[ElizabethHerts]

It is here, Merry:

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/england-and-wales-government-probate-death-index-1858-2019

But searching for "Probate Calendar" didn't work.

[Merry]

Ah, thanks Elizabeth. I always used to find it by searching 'probate calendar' too, but when that didn't find it, I didn't think to try a different name!