Court records cover a wide range of topics, including land ownership, adoption, taxes, and naturalization. This topic tells you how court records may help you in your research. To get more information about what types of court records exist and where to find them, select any of the topics listed at the end of this description.

Since court records cover such a wide variety of subjects, they can help you in many different ways. For example, they may help you locate ancestors' residences, determine occupations, find financial information, establish citizenship status, or clarify relationships between people. It all depends on the type of court records that your ancestors" names appear in.

Court records probably are not the first place that you will want to look for genealogical information because there are so many other ways that you can locate the information that you need. However, if you find that your other resources have failed you, court records may be valuable in your research.

Types of court records

How to find court records

Keys to successful genealogical research:

Guidelines for writing to places to request information

Preparing for outside research

Using libraries

Taking notes

Problems with old records: what to watch for

Determining accuracy of information

Other danger zones

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