To obtain court records, you would want to look in the following places:

State and Local Courts: In the United States, every state has a system of local courts, as well as a state supreme court. In general, the local courts are the best place to begin a genealogical search. To get information about your ancestors in court records, you should either write with a specific question to the court clerk in the area where your ancestors lived, or visit the court in person.

Federal Courts: In addition to the state and local courts, there are currently 89 federal district courts, U.S. circuit courts of appeals, and, the United States Supreme Court. Federal courts deal with cases where federal laws or the provisions of the Constitution have been violated. Most of these are criminal cases. Again, to get information about your ancestors in court records, you should either write with a specific question to the court clerk in the area where your ancestors lived, or visit the court in person.

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