A fearless look at how ecclesiastical courts and their staff shape property and probate in Britain, with practical ideas for reform.
This edition discusses the origin and workings of Doctors’ Commons, its key offices, and the roles of judges, registrars, and proctors. It exposes long-standing abuses and high charges while offering concrete remedies that aim to protect the public and modernize testamentary law. The author argues for separating real and personal property matters, and for reform rather than abolition of the courts.
Written to inform statesmen, lawyers, proctors, and the general public, this work blends a candid critique with a plan to streamline probate, reduce costs, and improve consistency in handling wills and administrations.
- Insight into how Ecclesiastical Courts came to handle testamentary matters and property disputes
- Plain explanations of fees, bounties, and the perceived abuses tied to proctors’ charges
- Proposals to separate real estate wills to the Court of Chancery and reform methods of probate
- Arguments for practical reform over total abolition, aimed at fairness and efficiency
Ideal for readers interested in legal history, public reform, and the practical reform of probate and testamentary procedures.