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Back in my younger days(1992-2001)and more recently(2008-2009)I used to work at the Manchester District Probate Registry as an Admin Assistant,before I got out and retrained,learned a trade(I am now a Gas Safe registered engineer) and in both my spells there talk of centralising the Probate Service was always in the background.And to be honest I am surprised that this hasn’t already happened though I am sure and certain that it will be one day in the not too distant future.

Certainly in my first spell the service provided by the Probate Service often at a time of distress for users was A1 Rolls Royce as people knew who did what and cases were processed fairly quickly.I felt on my second spell as a temp because of the Global Financial crash that the service had declined which was probably planned by Government Ministers and their yes men and women Civil Servants with a view to going down this route.And I strongly suspect that when this does happen within the next few years the service will be nowhere near the same and frankly nowhere near as good.I also suspect that when registries are closed or scaled down many will have no option but use a Solicitor or some other middle man/woman at great expense and the public will be the ones who will get screwed here money wise,unless the current registries are for appointment only to swear the papers.

I do however see one problem with this that no one has yet issued or raised and that is Wales and the fact that their grants from what I recall and assume is still the case have to be in both English and Welsh.If there is one Central Registry for England and Wales will the grants be in English only or will applicants from Wales be given the option of bi lingual ones?Or will the Cardiff Registry because of the uniqueness of the Welsh Language stay open to still issue bi lingual grants?You could argue with justification that Wales is being treated favourably compared to England,once more.

One thing I can say to my former colleagues at Probate Registries especially the younger ones in say their 20s or 30s if I were you I would very seriously consider your future and options because I cannot see one for you,and I would strongly advise them whilst they are young to retrain and learn a new skill or trade because one day I fear you will have nothing to fall back on should the axe fall or failing that the job becomes absolute rubbish.

Good luck.