Directory of
Probate Registries
and Interview Venues in England & Wales

Controlling Probate Registries (except Carlisle, Chester, Lancaster, London and Middlesbrough) are open to the public 9.30am to 4.00pm Monday-Friday.

You can choose any venue for your interview appointment, but your application forms must be sent to the Controlling Probate Registry responsible for that venue.

Information from HM Court Service
A grant of representation is a document issued by the Court which enables the person(s) named in it to deal with the assets and belongings ['estate'] of the deceased. It allows the money in banks, building societies etc. to be collected,  property to be sold or transferred and debts to be paid. There are three types  of grant of representation: 
  • Probate: granted to the executors named in the Will
  • Letter of Administration [with Will]: granted to someone other than an executor when the deceased left a
    valid Will, and
  • Letters of Administration: granted when the deceased did not leave a Will.
All these documents give the same authority to administer the estate. 
There is a calendar for every year from 1858 up to date. Entries are made in the calendar in the year in which the grant issued [which is not necessarily the year in which the deceased died] and are arranged in alphabetical order by the surname of the deceased. The amount of information given in the calendars has changed slightly over the years, but every entry will include the following details:
  • full name and last address
  • the date of death
  • the type of grant issued
  • the Registry at which the grant issued and the date of issue
  • the value of the estate - in cases where inheritance tax has been paid the exact figures for both the gross and net estate are shown but for excepted estates the net estate figure is shown rounded up to the nearest £1000
The calendars include all grants issued throughout England and Wales. There is no charge for you to search the calendars yourself.
If you write to a registry, officials will make a search on your behalf. There is a charge for this but if a grant is traced, the search fee includes the  provision of a copy of the grant and (if any), the Will. If a grant is not traced a letter will be sent to you to tell you this.
You must write to:
Postal Searches and Copies Department
York Probate Sub-Registry
1st Floor, Castle Chambers
Clifford Street
York YO1 9RG
Provide the full name, address and date of death of the deceased, stating what you require and enclosing the appropriate fee which is £5 for the first copy and £1 for every additional copy.  You can use HM Court Service Form PA1S