Jenny, I found this on the UK National Archives page. Maybe it will shed some light on the subject for you: There were three main factors determining in which court a will would be proved: - Where the person died - The value of the goods - How these goods were distributed geographically If the property was... The will was proved in the... Within one archdeaconry Archdeacon's court In more than one archdeaconry but all in the same diocese <https://mail.google.com/documentsonline/help/glossary.asp#D> Bishop's court (Consistory/Commissary court)<https://mail.google.com/documentsonline/help/glossary.asp#C> In more than one diocese Archbishop's prerogative court If the goods were valued at more than £5 (or £10 within London), in more than one diocese Archbishop's prerogative court Of course, there were exceptions to these general rules: During the Interregnum <https://mail.google.com/documentsonline/help/glossary.asp#I>all church courts were suspended, so all wills in England and Wales were dealt with in the Court for Proving of Wills and the Granting of Administrations, which sat in London in place of the PCC. After this these records were merged with those of the PCC, so the PCC holds all probate records for this period. If a will bequeathed goods to the value of £5 (£10 in London) which were dispersed in the north of England, and the south of England or Wales then the will was proved in both Archbishops' courts - first York, then Canterbury If a property-owner in England or Wales died overseas, such as sailors or soldiers, then their will was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury regardless of where their property was held Mary >