{"id":29839,"date":"2018-03-15T11:21:29","date_gmt":"2018-03-15T15:21:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=29839"},"modified":"2023-08-03T14:46:24","modified_gmt":"2023-08-03T18:46:24","slug":"genealogy-101-researching-court-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/genealogy-101-researching-court-records.html","title":{"rendered":"Genealogy 101: Researching Court Records"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><em>Introduction<\/em><\/strong><em>: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega provides tips for researching court records and preparing to visit a courthouse to learn more about your ancestors. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book \u201c<span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"http:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=CXaFyHM7znQC&amp;printsec=frontcover&amp;dq=From+the+Family+Kitchen.&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=Jo6tQVuF3D&amp;sig=nkmxReyZmS2srUIWT3eYF3SS4GU&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=bPoPUK2EIY2E8ATjwICwBA&amp;ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&amp;q=From%20the%20Family%20Kitchen.&amp;f=false\">From the Family Kitchen.<\/span>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Courthouses hold treasures for the genealogist \u2013 but visiting one can be intimidating if you\u2019ve never researched court records in person. It\u2019s important to learn all you can about what the courthouse holds, the procedure for obtaining records, and costs involved. The following are some tips to consider as you think about researching your family history in court records.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/illustration-0516-2014-featured-graphic-scales-of-justice.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29843\" src=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/illustration-0516-2014-featured-graphic-scales-of-justice.png\" alt=\"Illustration: the scales of justice\" width=\"601\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/illustration-0516-2014-featured-graphic-scales-of-justice.png 601w, https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/illustration-0516-2014-featured-graphic-scales-of-justice-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>What Records Do Courthouses Hold?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Like the description \u201cchurch records,\u201d the term \u201ccourt records\u201d is too general. Court records cover a vastly diverse set of records that document our ancestors from America\u2019s early history. \u201cCourt records\u201d can include \u201cprobate, naturalization, divorce, debt, adoption, guardianship, licenses, appointment to public offices, taxes, civil lawsuits, property disputes, and crimes.\u201d*<\/p>\n<p>What records can you find at a courthouse? Well, the short answer is, \u201cit depends.\u201d Why? Every courthouse is different and the records they hold depend on the location, type of courthouse, and what they retain onsite. In the California county where I live the Superior Court holds records like probates, civil, and criminal cases, but if you want a divorce record you have to take a walk across the street to the Family Court. Some records have been digitized and are available online while others must be ordered and retrieved by court staff. In a neighboring county, some older records from the early 20th century and prior can be found at the county archive.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.familysearch.org\/wiki\/en\/United_States_Court_Records\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FamilySearch Family History Research Wiki page on United States Court Records<\/a> states that there are three main types of court cases that involve records you may be interested in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201c These cases involve violation of laws when an individual (but not society) is harmed, such as property damage, trespass, or libel. In these cases, one or more individuals file suit against other individuals to enforce private rights or to receive compensation for violation of rights.<\/li>\n<li>\u201c These involve disputes or arguments between individuals and do not involve violation of laws. In these cases, individuals petition the court to reach a fair decision for both parties. Examples of equity action are cases involving probates of estates and property rights. Today this function is mostly handled by civil courts.<\/li>\n<li>\u201c These involve the violation of laws in which society is or may be harmed, such as drunk driving, theft, or murder. In these cases, the state (or \u201cthe people\u201d) file suit against the defendant. Serious crimes are felonies. Minor crimes are misdemeanors.\u201d**<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While court records are probably not the first records you should search when beginning a family history project, they are vital as you expand your search for your ancestor to probate records, wills, possible divorces and other cases.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Start Online<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It probably won\u2019t surprise you to learn that some records can be found online, either through a third-party website or from the courthouse itself. Always start your search using genealogy websites like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.familysearch.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FamilySearch<\/a>. To find court records, see the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.familysearch.org\/search\/catalog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FamilySearch Catalog<\/a> and then conduct three Place searches: for the state, county, and town you\u2019re researching. Subjects listed in the Catalog that have court records include Court Records and Probate Records.<\/p>\n<p>Remember that court records may be held in places other than a courthouse. Depending on the type of records and court, you may find them archived at a regional branch of the National Archives and Records Administration (for federal court records), as well as state or county archives.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t forget to also check the courthouse website. In some cases, you may find digitized records or even an index on the court\u2019s website. It\u2019s always best to ask another researcher or to email the court before visiting. You don\u2019t want to visit a courthouse only to find out that records you need are stored offsite or require a search fee and a notification by mail.<\/p>\n<p>Every court has difference rules\/policies about records access. In some states, I\u2019ve walked right into the courthouse and been allowed to research and copy whatever I need. In others, like where I live, the availability of records is limited to a paid search and waiting for a letter confirming that the records exist. Do your homework before you visit the courthouse to avoid disappointment.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Going to the Courthouse<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If the courthouse does have the records you need, keep in mind a few things:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dress professionally when you go but consider refraining from wearing white or light colors. Bound court records can be heavy and dusty.<\/li>\n<li>Be respectful of the court staff time. They are there for current cases and may not have time to help you as much as you require.<\/li>\n<li>Be prepared to wait. I\u2019ve waited close to two hours just to fill out a form. On the other hand, court record research takes time, so remember to allot yourself plenty of time for finding what you need.<\/li>\n<li>If you must pay for parking assume you\u2019ll be there longer than you expect.<\/li>\n<li>You may be required to go through a metal detector and\/or have your purse or other belongings searched. In some cases, a cell phone may not be allowed in the courthouse.<\/li>\n<li>You will most likely be required to pay a fee for copies. Depending on the amount of records you need, this fee may be substantial. You may want to inquire in advance whether credit cards are accepted, or bring enough cash.<\/li>\n<li>Consider talking to someone who has researched at that courthouse to provide information about what to expect.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t Forget Newspapers Published Court Records &amp; Legal Notices<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t forget the importance of newspaper research in learning more about your ancestor\u2019s legal dealings. Various types of articles might exist including schedules for court hearings, individual articles about court cases, and the legal notices found at the back of a newspaper serving notice to creditors, or those that are party to a court case. Search an online collection of newspapers such as GenealogyBank\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/explore\/newspapers\/all?utm_source=social&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=SM_Blog_txtlnk_2014_00&amp;s_referrer=social&amp;s_siteloc=blog&amp;s_trackval=SM_Blog_txtlnk_2014_00&amp;kbid=69919&amp;pq=1&amp;prebuy=no&amp;intver=&amp;CCPRODCODE=\">Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29849\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29849\" style=\"width: 763px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/doc\/newspapers\/image\/v2%3A122AFBBA107AC9E4%40GB3NEWS-125D2A2557BFBF5A%402396437-125892BCB63E7C67%402-12F2E22C4A6C4A08\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-29849\" src=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/plain-dealer-newspaper-0213-1849-probate-notice.png\" alt=\"A probate notice, Plain Dealer newspaper article 13 February 1849\" width=\"763\" height=\"327\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/plain-dealer-newspaper-0213-1849-probate-notice.png 763w, https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/plain-dealer-newspaper-0213-1849-probate-notice-300x129.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 763px) 100vw, 763px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29849\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio), 13 February 1849, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It was only after I found a legal notice about my ancestor in the newspapers that I was able to collect all of the relevant court records.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29851\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29851\" style=\"width: 338px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/doc\/newspapers\/image\/v2%3A1192685C54666980%40GB3NEWS-11C1AB7AA5301C70%402423374-11C1AB7B1514CE08%407-11C1AB7C35FE53A0\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-29851\" src=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/tucson-daily-citizen-newspaper-1115-1922-probate-notice.png\" alt=\"A probate notice, Tucson Daily Citizen newspaper article 15 November 1922\" width=\"338\" height=\"395\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/tucson-daily-citizen-newspaper-1115-1922-probate-notice.png 338w, https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/tucson-daily-citizen-newspaper-1115-1922-probate-notice-257x300.png 257w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29851\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tucson Daily Citizen (Tucson, Arizona), 15 November 1922, page 8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>To Learn More<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I recommend learning more about courthouse research by reading <em><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"http:\/\/store.genealogybank.com\/index.php\/genealogy-at-a-glance-court-records-research.html\">Genealogy at a Glance: Court Records Research<\/span><\/em> and <em>The Researcher\u2019s Guide to American Genealogy<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-<\/p>\n<p>* \u201cUnited States Court Records,\u201d FamilySearch Family History Research Wiki (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.familysearch.org\/wiki\/en\/United_States_Court_Records\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.familysearch.org\/wiki\/en\/United_States_Court_Records<\/a>: accessed 19 February 2018).<br \/>\n** Ibid.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related Articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/legal-news-records-in-newspapers-your-ancestors.html\">Legal News &amp; Records in Newspapers &amp; Your Ancestors<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/court-records-in-newspapers-a-gold-mine-for-genealogy-research.html\">Court Records in Newspapers: A Gold Mine for Genealogy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/how-to-research-legal-notices-in-newspapers-for-genealogy.html\">How to Research Legal Notices in Newspapers for Genealogy<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega provides tips for researching court records and preparing to visit a courthouse to learn more about your ancestors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":29859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12713],"tags":[12,2719,2721],"class_list":["post-29839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-genealogy-research-tips","tag-genealogy","tag-genealogy-search-tips","tag-legal-records"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/photo-1018-2016-featured-graphic-classroom-1.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29839","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29839"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29839\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":93543,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29839\/revisions\/93543"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}