In a message dated 20/09/2007 17:18:32 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Can someone provide me with what website can tell me about where to obtain wills for genealogical research. Researching Cain in County Durham, England, Janet Janet: There are very few dates that a family historian must remember - "1837" covers just about all of them. However, another very important one is 1858, the year when the Probate system changed all over England. The old system was based on what had gown up since mediaeval days and was essentially one of proving Wills in Church Courts, though the precise details varied a lot in different places. After 1858 the modern system of district Probate Courts, having no connection with any church courts, was set up. You therefore must be asked - are you thinking about a period before or after 1858? Geoff Nicholson