On 26 Sep at 12:12, Julian DUFFUS <[email protected]> wrote: > Until April 1999 wills from the probate registry where the best value > in genealogy being .75pence a shot what ever the length of the will > including postage. Alas that time is past. > > About 5 years ago I enquired about the digitisation of the index and > was told that it was activity being looked at. Any one who has had the > pleasure of using the on site computerized finding aid for wills will > know how clunky that system is. Very much agreed. And The National Archives can do a fully on-line wills facility and I can only imagine it is economically viable, so why can't the Probate Registry achieve the same. And why can't the GRO also do the same with BMD certs. If people want a certified copy they can pay extra and have it posted. A PPC deal with some private provider could finance it. A fully electronic system at a reduced price should significantly increase volumes (sales) and probably supply extra revenue to the government. This is a scandal of incompetence and probably staff hoarding that needs opening up a bit. -- Tim Powys-Lybbe [email protected] for a miscellany of bygones: http://powys.org/