Find your ancestors in Guernsey, Wills and Probate

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  • Probate - Wills
  • Wills of Realty & Personalty

We have made available as a browse - Ecclesiastical Court Wills 1663-1704

Where available, we always recommend viewing the record as you will find more details that will help you build a picture of your ancestors.

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Inheritance Laws in Guernsey – and Wills of Realty

Historically, the Norman law of succession limited the freedom of the deceased to decide the destination of his or her real estate. Succession was primarily patrilinear – through the male line. So sons were given preference over daughters, and where someone died without children, heirs through his male relatives were preferred over female lines.

Guernsey also applied the rule of primogeniture – the eldest son being recognised as the principal heir, although he was obliged to share some of the estate with his brothers. This system was designed to ensure that landed estates remained largely intact.

Estates were divided into meubles and immeubles (literally ‘moveables’ and ‘immovables’). Immeubles were primarily land and buildings, as well as rentes and hypothèques (essentially loans secured by land, akin to modern mortgages).

Under these circumstances, it was not possible to vary inheritance of propert

Partnership

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