In 1857 its functions were transferred to the Court of Probate.

He also served as a registrar for the court of probate and a justice of the peace for Halifax County.

The mayor's court acted as a court of probate, a surrogates court, and a court of sessions.

The court of probate did not deal unless incidentally with the meaning of the will; its jurisdiction was confined to seeing that it was duly executed.

The Queen's Proctor (or King's Proctor) is the proctor or solicitor representing the Crown in the courts of probate and divorce.

The Governor-in-Council of both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are also specifically tasked to appoint in the Queen's name the judges of the courts of probate.

Further, only in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick may the lieutenant governor appoint judges of the courts of probate, and only in Quebec is the solicitor general commissioned by the viceroy.

The law was gradually brought into its present condition through precedents extending back for centuries, especially decisions of the court of chancery, the court par excellence of construction, as distinguished from the court of probate.