41 million Wills made available online

For the first time, more than 41 million Wills are being published on the internet, as part of a huge online archive.

The database will allow families across the country to view the detailed legacies of past generations, and request copies of many documents that could previously only be accessed by a face-to-face request.

As well as being able to explore their own relatives' histories, people will also be able to access the Wills of famous and significant individuals of the 19^th and 20^th centuries, including Sir Winston Churchill and Charles Dickens.

The Wills are owned by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service, and cover England and Wales. The documents were painstakingly scanned in by hand.

Last year 280,000 Wills of First World War soldiers were made available online to commemorate the 1914-18 conflict. These generated two million searches as people sought to find clues to what roles their ancestors played in the war.

Courts Ministar Shailesh Vara said "This fascinating project provides insights into the ordinary and extraordinary people who helped shape this country, and the rest of the world."

If you are thinking of writing a Will, our expert solicitors can guide you through the process. Speak to us on 0161 492 0300

Deen Wahid

Manchester Wills Solicitors