Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hello lovely helpful people in Liverpool - yes, you!!
I have what is really a general question about probate.

I have (quite successfully, with your help) researched Nancy Pinkstone. (She wasn't Nancy Pinkstone at all, she was Lucy Ann Pitt when she started out, and was also listed as Pingstone - no wonder I could not find her.

One blip was, however, that the main office for probate (in York) drew a blank with any probate for her or her husband, George.

I am wondering if it would be better to apply to Liverpool Probate Office? As I am down here in Somerset, I do not know how to go about this, or how much it costs. Have looked at their website, but cannot really see how to apply. Dont want to waste more money. Any guidance would be soooo appreciated.
Thank you so much.

Best wishes and a Happy New Year to everyone.
Rosey W (Member no 8372)

Hi Rosey,

I am not familiar with wills etc, but I hope this online leaflet published by Liverpool Records Office may help.

Can you give a time frame for the probate please?

http://www.liverpoolinprint.org.uk/guid ... /wills.pdf

Jan

First of all how sure are you that there would have been a Will? I would imagine that if York (I think it's changed to Leeds now) couldn't find anything there might not be one, check this information http://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/probat ... ants-wills oh just one year out and then the Will should have been listed on computer?

Another thought is that if there was no Will and perhaps no beneficiary was found, it may have ended up on the Bona Vacantia list, however pre 1997 there is little hope of discovering that
http://www.bonavacantia.gov.uk/output/estates-list.aspx

I'm just going to link the previous posts for others to check if they want to look back at the story.
http://forum.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk ... =2&t=12415
http://forum.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk ... =2&t=12171

Jan just to save you reading through everything, we seem to be looking at 1996.

At the Liverpool District Probate Registry office which is in the Queen Elizabeth 11 Crown Court they have a searchable database for the whole Country which goes from 1963 up to Present day. I'm sure if you ring them they may check to see if a Will was left.

Here are the contact details

Address: Liverpool Combined Court Centre, Derby Square, Liverpool, Merseyside L2 1XA
Phone:0151 236 8264

If York now Leeds has said there was no will probated or no administration applied for that will be the same whichever office you contact. The office in York now Leeds was where Postal Searches were dealt with.

The most likely explanation is neither left a will and no administration was applied for. Even today only a third of the population is estimated to make a will.

Did the couple have any children? If they did they are the most likely to know.

Answering my own question looking over the old posts I suggested looking for Pinstone children with mother's maiden name Pitt. There is one child who is likely to be still alive and certainly that persons' children are likely to be alive.

For an example, if both husband and wife's names were on bank accounts and property deeds etc. when the first died it would merely be a matter of removing the one name and if she then went into a retirement home and any property sold, then there may have been no need for a Will at all.

Thank you everyone for your help.
Off I go, to follow up some of your helpful suggestions.

Rosey W