Many thanks Nivard, can now fill that out. I was a bit scared by the small print saying that if I don't get it right they will charge me and send me a letter telling me what I did wrong. I still prefer the way Cheshire do it, and you don't have to worry about date ranges. Thanks again Christine -----Original Message----- From: Nivard Ovington Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 9:14 AM To: Christine Benson ; London Mailing List Subject: Re: [LON] Post 1858 wills Hi Christine Actually it couldn't be much simpler really :-) You don't even need the form to be honest This applies to *all* wills from 1858 to date for England & Wales On the form enter surname & forename of the deceased Enter the date of death (if known) OR just the year As you have it, in the address box I would enter :- (From the 1893 probate Calendar) BENSON William of 4 Ellison-road Streatham common Surrey died 26 November 1893 Probate London 29 January to Elizabeth Edith White (wife of Charles Ernest White) Effects £660 (But its not necessary, just the County would suffice when known) Enter your name, address with post code (if used) I would add your email address and telephone number Thats it If all you knew is that XXX died in a given year that would be enough to request a search, the standard charge includes a four year search and copies A letter requesting copies of Will & Grant for XXX (persons name) who died XXXX (if known or approximate if not) Would be all you would need but I would advise checking the probate calendars first if at all possible Should there be no will the fee is non returnable Should it state "Administration was granted to" unless it specifically states "with will" it means the person died intestate and the letters of administration do not normally tell you much more, if anything, than the probate calendar Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > Hi Nivard, > > Thanks for that. Why do they have to make it so complex? I have ordered > wills from Cheshire and Lancashire before and it is find your will, pay > and it drops through the letter box. Here I am struggling with this form. > What is "Grant type"? I suppose the issuing registry is London. Is the > Grant issue date the probate date? Is the address the one on the death > certificate? What is a DX number? And Exchange? > > Can you translate for me please? > > Christine

Hi Christine Just to set your mind at rest, I have never had any problems when ordering post 1858 wills I don't know the specific small print you refer to but suspect its more to deter the "I have a john SMITH who died between 1870 and 1930" type of requests than the type you are putting in The difference with the Cheshire wills database is that it is done locally and would include any post 1858 wills to 1940 Not so long ago there were no online wills databases, records offices are catching on to the idea that online databases not only make information available to far more people (and therefore their wallets too) and also free up their staff to do other things It of course involves some expenditure to put the database online though, and at this time its money they don't really have But gradually things are improving year on year Not long ago there was little in the way of access to census, bmd, probate, newspapers, maps etc etc Just look at us now, verily our cups runneth over <vbg> Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > Many thanks Nivard, can now fill that out. I was a bit scared by the small print saying that if I > don't get it right they will charge me and send me a letter telling me what I did wrong. I still > prefer the way Cheshire do it, and you don't have to worry about date ranges. > > Thanks again > > Christine