National Probate Index lookup - 1942,1966

[Alexander.]

Could someone with access to the National Probate Index lookup a couple of people for me please? I think it is quite likely they had wills/administration because they seem to have been of considerable means, and they had no children, but it would be great to confirm this.

George H(erbert?) HODD (died 1942, Hampshire)
May Florence HODD (died 22 Dec 1966, Sussex) - George's widow

Thanks
Alexander

[rosie99]

Sorry, the indexes on Anc* only go up to 1941 

Rosie

[mshrmh]

Alexander - there is a RootsChatter who goes to the Probate Registry in London sometimes who may be able to do a lookup there for you. In the meantime there was a standard notice in the London Gazette in relation to May's estate:
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/44293/pages/4466/page.pdf

[Alexander.]

Thanks Rosie and mshrhm, I was aware of that. I could just order the probate records directly, but if it's only an administration it's not going to be very helpful - so if someone can check the calendars, that would fantastic.

Cheers,
Alexander

[Rena]

I've been on the Hampshire County Council site and it seems they hold some wills  (see below).  However, I've used the search facility and although there were a few results none were yours.

http://www3.hants.gov.uk/archives/hals-collections/wills.htm

<<We hold the calendars for the years 1858-1952. Alternatively, any probate registry can conduct a search (fee payable) and provide a copy, if found, of any post-1858 will.>>

That website has a link to the Hampshire Probate office in Winchester. this explains that requests for copy wills/probate have to be made through the Leeds (Yorkshire) office. 

The below website gives the costs:-

<<Fees: When returning the completed application to the Postal Searches and Copies Department in Leeds, please also enclose the fee of £6.00. Each extra copy of the same document ordered at the same time will attract an additional fee of £1.00. Cheques or Postal Orders should be crossed and made payable to ‘HM Courts & Tribunals Service’. Fees from abroad should be paid by International Money Order, cheque or draft, payable through a United Kingdom bank, and must be made out in £ sterling. We are currently unable to accept payments by credit or debit card, nor are we able to receive search requests by telephone. Please contact any Probate Registry for details of fees for special copies (for instance if you are administering estate abroad), and mark your application accordingly.

The standard fee covers a 4-year search starting from the year in which the death occurred (or the year from which you ask us to start searching). Longer searches are charged at a rate of £4.00 per 4-year period, >>

http://www.theprobatedepartment.co.uk/copy-will-or-grant-of-probate/

-------
This is the Leeds Probate website which gives more explanation and states the format or which form should be submitted:

http://www.theprobatedepartment.co.uk/find-the-nearest-probate-registry/leeds-district-probate-registry-office/

Cheers,
Rena in Lancashire

[dawnsh]

Hi Rena

At the moment, the probate calendars that are produced by HMCTS are not available anywhere online after 1941 or between 1858 and 1861. Most of the district registries hold partial sets but the only complete set is at Holborn.

The calendars should always be checked before sending off money to Leeds. If there isn't a will or admon, you don't get your money back and the £6's for each one soon add up if all you get are negatives.

The links that you posted above, although mostly accurate, are not the official HMCTS site

http://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/probate

Alexander, I should be at Holborn this week or next and can check the calendars for you.

Dawn

[Rena]

Hi Rena

At the moment, the probate calendars that are produced by HMCTS are not available anywhere online after 1941 or between 1858 and 1861. Most of the district registries hold partial sets but the only complete set is at Holborn.

The calendars should always be checked before sending off money to Leeds. If there isn't a will or admon, you don't get your money back and the £6's for each one soon add up if all you get are negatives.

The links that you posted above, although mostly accurate, are not the official HMCTS site

http://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/probate

Alexander, I should be at Holborn this week or next and can check the calendars for you.

Dawn

Thanks Dawn.
I think I need to rethink my position as I downloaded forms from the YORK probate website last year intending to ask for two wills.  Ill health got in the way and the pile in my "to do" folder was left untouched..... I'm now working my way through it.

Thanks again.
Cheers,
Rena

[Alexander.]

Thanks Dawn, that would be great. There's no rush, so whenever you're going and have a moment to spare is fine.

Thank you Rena as well. The link you provided doesn't specifically apply to the people I mentioned in this thread, but I did find reference to a few older wills on the Hampshire site that I wasn't aware of - so it was actually very useful.

Cheers,
Alexander