All probate records for the Diocese of Bath and Wells deposited in the probate registry at Exeter were destroyed by enemy action in 1942.

Prior to their destruction there were few published indexes to the names in the records. The Somerset Record Society vol. 62 covered wills 1528-1600 from the Consistory, and Archdeaconry of Bath and Wells, the Dean of Wells and the Dean and Chapter. British Record Society vol 53 included the Peculiar of Ilminster 1690-1857.

In 1939 (two years prior to the destruction of the original records) the Society of Genealogists purchased a manuscript index made by an unknown person when the records were at Wells, covering the Consistory to 1829, the Archdeaconry to 1799, the Dean of Wells to 1804, the Dean and Chapter of wells will to 1720, 1837-1857, admons 1660-1857 as shown in the contents list below:

In 2020 a team of SoG volunteers led by Cliff Webb transcribed the indexes for digital publication thus allowing searches to be made across all 13 volumes.

Wells Wills vols 1-13 Contents

Wells wills, vol. 1 parts i-iii
The Episcopal Consistory Court of Bath & Wells : index to copies of wills, books 1-19 1528-85; books 20-47 1573-1636; original wills 1543-1648
Wells wills, vol. 2 & 3
The Episcopal Consistory Court of the Bishop of Bath & Wells; calendar of wills 1660-1739 :
Wells wills, vol. 4
Index to Bishop's Court wills 1740-59
Wells wills, vol. 5 & 6.
Index to Bishop's Court wills 1760-99
Wells wills, vol. 7
Index to Bishop's Court wills 1800-30; Dean's Court calendar of administrations 1712-75
Wells wills, vol. 8
Wells Archdeacon's court 1660-99
Wells wills, vol. 9 & 10
Wells Archdeaconry court 1700-1800
Wells Wills, vol. 11
The Consistorial Court of the Dean of Wells : calendar of wills & administrations, 1660-1804:
Wells Wills, vol. 12
The Consistorial Court of the Dean of Wells : Dean & Chapter calendar of wills 1660-1720; wills & administrations 1837-58; Dean's Court calendar of administrations 1712-75; Dean & Chapter calendar of inventories & administrations 1660-1837
Wells Wills, Vol 13 Peculiar Courts
Ashill wills & administrations 1662-1845 : Calendar of wills & administrations, Wells Peculiar Courts: Wells wills, vol. 13
Banwell & Churchill wills 1675-1857 & administrations 1674-1852 : Calendar of wills & administrations, Wells Peculiar Courts: Wells wills, vol. 13
Buckland Dinham wills & administrations 1637-1857 : Calendar of wills & administrations, Wells Peculiar Courts: Wells wills, vol. 13
Compton Bishop wills & administrations 1647-1851 : Calendar of wills & administrations, Wells Peculiar Courts: Wells wills, vol. 13
Compton Dundon wills 1678-1857 & administrations 1678-1745 : Calendar of wills & administrations, Wells Peculiar Courts: Wells wills, vol. 13