Hello Jenny I have copies of many Wills and have looked at the reason why many of them were proved in London. I can only come to one conclusion - the Executor(s) (often a solicitor) were having a day out in the big city at the expense of the deceased and their family. I just cannot see any other reason. You may find Wills proved at regional registries some way from home in the mid 1900's and that may have had the advantage that the local newspapers would not pick up the information and tell all your friends and neighbours how much (or how little) you left behind. I have dealt with three family probates in the last twenty years and whilst I went to the nearest probate office on each occasion I could have been interviewed at any probate office in England. Mike Shropshire, UK ___________________________________________ On 14/03/2011 10:53, Jenny Davis wrote: > I'm wondering whether any of our resident experts might have comment on the > wills of my great grandparents; in particular about *where* they were > proved. Though they both died in the same parish - Combe St Nicholas - and > within two years of each other - 1905 and 1907 - the earlier will was proved > in London and the latter in Taunton. The two estates were of nearly > identical value (about £150), and in each case probate was granted a similar > amount of time after the death, about two weeks. Perhaps the Taunton > 'facilty' came on stream in the intervening period? > > Thanks, > Jnny > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >