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Note that if you are searching for a person who lived outside of Calcutta and the other capitals, up-country, in the Mofussil, they will probably be found in the records of the District Courts, not the Supreme Courts. The District Court records start from 1865, as explained in this include [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlag_4&cid=1-6560#1-65 summary 60 Wills, probates, administrations and inventories of estates of persons who died in India and Burma '''IOR/L/AG/34 contents/29''']. This Rootsweb India List which include*[http://archiverwww.nationalarchives.rootswebgov.ancestryuk/a2a/records.comaspx?cat=059-iorlag_4&cid=1-60-2#1-60-2 Bengal wills '''IOR/L/thAG/read34/INDIA29/20094-10184'''] Calcutta Supreme/1256029313 thread] advises that the only information available in relation to wills proved in District Courts are the summaries of grants made which are contained in the District High Court Calendars of Probate*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records. Unlike aspx?cat=059-iorlag_4&cid=1-60-3#1-60-3 Madras wills proved in the and administrations '''IOR/L/AG/34/29/185-340'''] Madras Supreme Courts at Calcutta, Madras and /High Court*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlag_4&cid=1-60-4#1-60-4 Bombay, copies of the actual wills were not sent to the India Office in London. At this point (December 2009) it appears most likely that the Indian Courts, rather than Regional State Archives in India would be most likely to hold the probated wills, if copies still exist. Details of both these sources may be found in [[Indian Libraries and Archivesadministrations '''IOR/L/AG/34/29/341-380''']].Bombay Supreme/High Court
Some wills proved in England relate to persons These records, with links to India or, indeed, those who have actually died in India. Maybe property was held at home and abroad and, thereforeimages, are available for download on the will was proved in both places. Where this happened before 1858 a will held in the British Library may also be mirrored in the Documents Online section of the National Archives website – from where it can be downloaded at nominal cost. [http://www.nationalarchives.govawin1.uk/documentsonlinecom/willsdeathdutiesawclick.asp National Archivesphp?mid=2114&id=201071 findmypast]. [http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1176.htm Guide to obtaining probate records from 1858 in England and Wales] by Her Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCS) part of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ)website.
Wills may Note that if you are searching for a person who lived outside of Calcutta and the other capitals, up-country, in the Mofussil, they will probably be a means found in the records of tracing family links through the beneficaries namedDistrict Courts, not the Supreme Courts. This India List The District Court records start from 1865, as explained in this [http://archiverwww.rootswebnationalarchives.ancestrygov.comuk/tha2a/readrecords.aspx?cat=059-iorlag_4&cid=1-65#1-65 summary of L/INDIAAG/2009-12/1261146747 post34 contents] says “I have a will from Bengal dated 1813 . The only information available in relation to wills proved in District Courts are the summaries of grants made which an ancestor are contained in the District Court Calendars of mine named his brother-Probate. Unlike wills proved in the Supreme Courts at Calcutta, Madras and Bombay, copies of the actual wills were not sent to the India Office in-law as a beneficiaryLondon. These records do NOT appear to have been digitised by FindMy Past. That is At this point (December 2009) it appears most likely that the only clue I have Indian Courts, rather than Regional State Archives in India would be most likely to his wife's identity”hold the probated wills, if copies still exist. Details of both these sources may be found in [[Indian Libraries and Archives]].
==FIBIS resources==*Sylvia MurphySome wills proved in England relate to persons with links to India or, "Some Sources of Probate indeed, those who have actually died in India. Maybe property was held at home and abroad and Estate Records for India," ''FIBIS Journal''therefore, No 8 (Autumn 2002)the will was proved in both places. For details Where this happened before 1858 a will held in the British Library may also be mirrored in the Documents Online section of how to access this article online, see the National Archives website – from where it can be downloaded at nominal cost. [[FIBIS Journals]http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/willsdeathduties.asp National Archives].
The following information is available on the FIBIS Search database.*[http://wwwsearch.searchancestry.fibisco.orguk/frontis/binsearch/aps_browse_sourcesdb.phpaspx?modedbid=browse_components1904 England &id=153&s_id=139 Bengal Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills in the India Office Records] 1780 to 1866 Completeand Administrations), 18671861-1909 surnames beginning ‘A’ only1941] is now available through Ancestry. *[http://wwwco.searchuk.fibisNote there are a few gaps in records.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=158&s_id=139 Officers Wills If you wish to order a copy of a will or grant mentioned in the India Office Records] an index and extract this collection, you can do so for a fee from the IOR series L/AG/34/30/30Principal Probate Registry or any district probate registry, or you can make a request by mail. The wills of only 37 officers are included. They cover all three presidencies over Read how to do this in the years 1831 to 1875*[http://www.searchhmcourts-service.fibisgov.orguk/frontiscms/bin/aps_browse_sources1176.php?mode=browse_components&id=13&s_id=30 Administration Act Bookshtm Guide to obtaining probate records from 1858 in England and Wales] Administrations relating to India 1830 to 1857*[http://www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources by Her Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCS) part of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).php?mode=browse_components&id=14&s_id=30 Limited Administration Act Books] relating to India 1830 to 1839
If you want to obtain a copy of a will that you have found a reference for in FIBIS’s transcriptions, you will need to visit or contact the [[British Library]], or order a LDS film (refer below). This India List [http{{#widget://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIA/2010-03/1267970970 post dated 3/2010] is in respect of obtaining a copy of a will from the [[British Library]].Google PlusOne|size=small|count=true
[http://www.fibis.org/membership.htm FIBIS members] can also take advantage of the FIBIS research service to obtain a photocopy of a microfilmed will from the [[British Library]] (and, indeed, details from other records ) where a reference has been found on the website. A search can also be made for wills, probates and inventories which may not yet be listed on the site. Members should contact the research co-ordinator - [mailto:research@fibis.org research@fibis.org] - for details of this service.}}
==External Links==
*[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&keyword=+Probate+India&prekeyword=+Probate+India Microfilms in the Family History Library] - a list obtained by a keyword search ('probate, India') of filmed India Office records in the [[LDS]] (Mormon) Family History Library Catalogue.
→Obtaining a copy of a will
==FIBIS resources==
*[http://www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=153&s_id=139 Bengal Wills in the India Office Records] 1780 to 1866 Complete, 1867-1909 surnames beginning ‘A’ only.
*[http://www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=158&s_id=139 Officers Wills in the India Office Records] an index and extract from the IOR series L/AG/34/30/30. The wills of only 37 officers are included. They cover all three presidencies over the years 1831 to 1875
*[http://www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=13&s_id=30 Administration Act Books] Administrations relating to India 1764 to 1857
*[http://www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=14&s_id=30 Limited Administration Act Books] relating to India 1830 to 1839
*Sylvia Murphy, "Some Sources of Probate and Estate Records for India," ''FIBIS Journal'', No 8 (Autumn 2002). For details of how to access this article online, see [[FIBIS Journals]].
===Obtaining a copy of a will===
To obtain a copy of a will indexed in the above FIBIS resources you have the following options:
* Copies of British India Office Wills & Probate 1774-1948 are available from [http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=2114&id=201071 findmypast]
* Contact the [[British Library]]
* Order a LDS film (refer below) See [[Family History Centres]]. However, for most people findmypast would be more convenient.
* [http://www.fibis.org/membership.htm FIBIS members] can also take advantage of the FIBIS research service to obtain a photocopy of a microfilmed will from the [[British Library]] (and, indeed, details from other records ) where a reference has been found on the website. A search can also be made for wills, probates and inventories which may not yet be listed online. Members should contact the research co-ordinator - [mailto:research@fibis.org research@fibis.org] - for details of this service.
==Records==
The [[British Library]] webpage [http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indiaofficerecordsfamilyhistory/willsandadministrations/willsadmin.html Wills and Administration] lists sources in the [[India Office Records]].
==External Links=Obtaining a copy of a will=*[http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=2114&id=201071 findmypast]*[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&keyword=+Probate+India&prekeyword=+Probate+India Microfilms in the Family History Library] - a list obtained by a keyword search ('probate, India') of filmed India Office records in the [[LDS]] (Mormon) Family History Library Catalogue.*[http://www.sog.org.uk/uploads/Gillian_Stevens_and_Chad_Hanna_-Wills_and_Where_to_Find_Them.pdf Wills and Where to find them in England and Wales] by Gillian Stevens and Chad Hanna sog.org.uk [http://www.sog.org.uk/learn/who-do-you-think-you-are-2013-speakers-handouts/ upload] 2013
[[Category:Records]]
[[Category:Research methods]]
