VPRS 525 Transcriptions of Wills [Also Known As Register of Wills] (Microfilm Copy of VPRS 27)

This series consists of the microfilm copy of VPRS 27 Transcriptions of Wills [Also Known As Register of Wills]. These books were copied onto microfilm by the Public Record Office in 1982 (VPRS 525/P0), and 1986 (VPRS 525/P1). Microfilming of the hardcopy register was undertaken in order to preserve the original records and to enable the information to be made available in each Public Record Office Public Search Room. These books of transcriptions of wills were known as registers in the Probate Office. The Register of Wills was created by the Office of the Registrar of Probates. This office was responsible for the granting of probate or letters of administration to the executors of estates of deceased persons. Executors had to apply to the Registrar for a grant of probate (if a will was found) or letter of administration (if there was no will) before the assets of the estate could be liquidated if the value of those assets exceeded a certain limit. Until 1922, presumably for ease of reference, the Registrar's Office removed wills from probate applications, copied and then filed them. These copies were initially handwritten, but later typed, and then bound to form the books in this series. The last will processed in this manner was will series 185 number 291 (file 185/291). Subsequent wills were filed but not transcribed. Each reel of microfilm usually covers 2 or 3 volumes, with entries within the volumes arranged in file number order.