Genealogy Chat

I've been reading the help page with regard to wills. GC say that you can apply for a four year search of wills (I think) for £5 and Probate Registry will also send a copy of the will. Does anybody know who I make the cheque payable to? I've never done this before and I don't want to slow the process down! Also has anyone else done this and do they know roughly how long it takes? Ta.

Hi Rachel, I aplied for a will at the Exeter Probate Sub Registry. I made the cheque out to HMCS (Her Majesty's Court Services). I received the will very quickly. I did phone their offices beforehand to check details before sending off my cheque. A list of offices is on: http://www.lawontheweb(.)co(.)uk/basics/probateoffices.htm Remove brackets. Gillian

If you are writing to York the cheque has to be made out to The Paymaster General Gwynne

Thanks so much, I am writing to York. Fingers crossed! Rachel

Wait - they've changed it. It did used to be the Paymaster General and just when I realised who that was (Dawn Primarolo), they changed it to something more boring.... let me look....'HM Courts Service'. You would be well advised to print off the form and the instructions from their website so they don't write back to you saying that you missed something out! The form is PA1S and you should be able to find it on their website: http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/wills.htm Then click on 'Forms and Guidance', and enter PA1S as form number. Kate.

Wow, thanks for that, Kate, they cashed my last one - which was 8 months ago. I've made a note, Gwynne

I'm sure that they will accept any made out to the Paymaster General too. It's not as though their bank is going to suspect them of money laundering! Kate.