Most records of probate are straightforward statements that probate was made and administration of the will was granted to the executors. Complications did sometimes occur, however, particularly where a testator had no direct heirs. It may be in this case that Katherine Page died intestate; her husband would have been able to lay claim to a lifetime interest in at least some of her property. Possibly more distant relatives subsequently heard of her death and put in a claim to her property, or possibly what we have here is Nicholas Page seeking to obtain more than a life interest in his late wife's property.

For on folios adjacent to the transcript of the probate session five related documents are copied. These are in the form of quitclaims to the Lynn property of Katherine Page. On the day immediately proceeding the probate hearing, after the claimants had arrived in Lynn, Nicholas obtained – probably by purchase – quitclaims from John Gilling of Wisbech and his wife Joan, Alan de Colne of Wisbech, and Katherine the daughter of Simon fitz Theobald of Ashby near Horncastle. These legal transactions were all witnessed by essentially the same group of prominent townsmen, along with Thomas de Lindesey and in at least one case by some men from surrounding villages – for the properties in question, described only in broad terms as encompassing tenements, houses, gardens, quays, rents, arable land, meadows, pastures, fields of rushes, lanes and footpaths, were located not only in the town of Bishop's Lynn, but also in South Lynn, North Lynn, North Clenchwarton, and other villages in the locality. It is evident these transactions were all effected at the same time in the same place.

Although none of the witnesses participated in any official capacity, the transactions seem to have taken place in the gildhall at an assembly meeting. For accompanying these entries in the Red Register is a note stating that Peter, the son of Robert de Walton (died 1316), appeared before mayor and community the same day and put in a claim to one of the properties. Peter's claim was as a grandson of Katherine de Lindesey, by her marriage to William de Walton (dead by 1313), father of Robert. This puts in question the testimony the following day that Katherine died with direct heirs. That Peter's claim was not without foundation is indicated by a quitclaim purchased by Nicholas Page and his wife Katherine in 1331 from Robert's widow Alice, concerning one of the Lindesey properties in Lynn. Nicholas Page thought it best to buy Peter off too, and did so in a quitclaim dated 25 October 1335, which Peter followed up with a public statement before the assembly confirming that he had surrendered his claim. At the same time, Nicholas obtained a quitclaim from Simon fitz Theobald. Much the same group of witnesses was used for this second set of transactions as was used for the first.

The probate proceedings may therefore have served, from Nicholas' point of view, to confirm before the law that he had obtained his quitclaims from the right people. The significance of these events is reinforced by the fact that Nicholas' testament later underwent probate before the borough authorities at Lynn. The testament was drawn up in 1341 but did not receive probate until 1345. The exceptional nature of this situation is reflected in that 8 days was allocated for anyone with claims to any of the property devised to come forward, whereas 3 days was the normal period.

Although Nicholas was in Norwich when the testament was drafted, and requested burial next to his late wife Katherine in the church of St. Julian, Conesford Street, Norwich, much of the document concerns itself with the properties in Lynn. With the exception of a property called "Grymestonestede" in Briggate and a meadow called "Feggishil", the real estate was to be sold by his executors within a year of his death, and the money put towards pious uses and commemorative services for the souls of himself, his wife and their parents. He also made provision for services for a few others, including Robert de Walton, his wife, and son. The two excepted properties he left to a household servant, Elena atte Chirche, who was important enough in Nicholas' life also to be designated one of his executors; she was to hold for life, with the option of purchasing permanently, failing which the properties were after her death to be sold and the proceeds put towards the benefit of the souls of Nicholas and Katherine. The testament gives no indication that Nicholas held any significant property in Norwich; such clauses could have been omitted by the Lynn clerk, but the inclusion of other irrelevant clauses makes it unlikely.

This document may also be taken as an illustration of the "failure of male heirs" phenomenon. The Lindesey male line had died out both in its Lynn and Wisbech branches, with the sole exception of Thomas, who is not known to have had any children; the name does not appear in Lynn records after this time. The Page family had similarly died out; Nicholas left no children, and his siblings were one or possibly two sisters and a brother who was a clergyman.