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diction, which by my first proposition, would be taken away from the present Ecclesiastical Courts, namely subtraction and right of tithes and offerings, probate of wills, &c., be transferred to the Court of Chancery, which, in questions of probate, would thus have supreme jurisdiction. The Solicitor-General's proposition respecting the transfer of the whole staff of the Metropolitan Court, including practitioners, registrars, clerks of the seal and proctors, to the Court of Chancery is, to my mind, most satisfactory.
In other respects I prefer Mr. R. P. Collier's plan, and trust that the whole of the testamentary jurisdiction will be taken from the Diocesan Courts and given (excepting questions for determining the validity of contested wills)[1] to the County Courts.
Thus the Judge of the County Court would grant probate in all cases of the death of parties living at the period of their deaths, within the jurisdiction of his Court. One probate would suffice for all parts of the kingdom. Each County Court would have a registry, and, upon probate being granted, it would be transmitted to the central registry at the Court of Chancery in London.
4. The Solicitor-General proposes to transfer the staff of practitioners from Doctors' Commons to the Court of Chancery, but I would suggest that, hereafter, all doctors of civil law should be allowed
- ↑ These questions for determining the validity of contested wills would be referred to the Court of Chancery.
