Search for soldier's wills online
 

https://www.probatesearch.service.gov.uk/

Saw this mentioned in my paper this morning. I've had a look for my gt uncle who died in France in 1918. Found someone of the same name (which isn't a particularly common one) but the date of death is a month out from the one I have (which came from the CWGC) and I don't know his regimental number to cross check with. Do I risk £6 on the chance it is him, or not....?

I've answered my question. I knew my gt uncle's grave was listed on the Find a Grave website so I've had a look on there and the grave of another man with the same name but the date of death and regimental number as the one whose will is listed, is also there. I'm disappointed that I can't get a copy of his will.

Thanks for posting this, Ann. My grandfather's cousin is listed. I thought these would be going onto the National Archives site so I am surprised to see that they have built a separate site for them, with a pretty basic search facility. Now, shall I order my grandfather's cousin's will...?

There doesn't seem to be a lot of information about the system on that site, unless it is going to come up when I register. It says "You’ll be able to access the wills for 31 days.
You may have to wait up to 10 days for some documents. Wills are provided for personal use only: you must get the relatives’ permission if you want to publish them in any way."

I would like to know how I will be able to access the will, whether the 31 days is from the order date or the date it is actually made available, and what they mean by the stuff about getting the relatives' permission to publish them!

Er, I've registered, clicked the link in the email to confirm my email address, logged in, returned to my basket containing one item, clicked to checkout, and got a screen which says:

Payment confirmation
Order overview
Order reference : 145885
Total charge : ---
Beneficiary : Leeds District Probate Registr
unknown order/1/r/

The only button to click is a "Cancel" and there is no way to enter payment details. So I don't think they are quite ready for customers yet!

Edit - even better, when I clicked the "Cancel" button, I got this:
Payment confirmation
Bestellung Überblick
Bestellnummer : 64673498
Gesamtbetrag : ---
Zahlungsempfänger : ---
merchant not found : TEST

Oh, and if you click the "Feedback" link to give them feedback on their beta test, it wants to open Microsoft Outlook. I don't even know whether I have that on this laptop, and if I do, it won't be set up with any account details etc so I shan't bother.

If you right-click on the Feedback link you should be able to copy their e-mail address into your own e-mail program.

Thanks, Mary. I'll wait till I'm on the other computer though.

Thanks for posting this Ann, I read about this a long time ago and wonder when they were going to come online.

I've found my great grandfather as well as other relatives.

I wonder if the site will be expanded to include the probate index as I have read that was due to come online (not Ancestry).

Surely it isn't till next year that the wills will be available?

I thought that this was one of those lost sets of data which had somehow slipped through the net.

I thought that the soldiers' wills was an excuse to postone getting the main probate index online. (but perhaps I am just being cynical)

Seems to be working now, i've just ordered my great grandfather's will and it has an estimated delivery of 8th Sept 2013!