The courthouses of America have many different types of records to aid patrons in their search. Vital Records are often kept there, as well as well, property records, probate records, and records of court proceedings.

County courthouses are located in the county seat of each county in America. They are often located in a large imposing structure of early American architecture. County courthouses would be most likely to have local vital records, and local land and property records. They probably also contain all records from daughter counties which have broken away at a date following the record's creation. So be sure to learn the jurisdictional history of your ancestor's counties, and check parent counties for records pre-dating the creation of that particular county.

Some courthouses are "user friendly" and happy to help. Many clerks even let citizens search the records themselves.

Other courthouses are very formal and insist on looking everything up themselves, for a price. Some will let you make copies of pertinent family records. Each is courthouse is different, based on local laws, and will have to be dealt with individually.

Many courthouses have agreed to let LDS microfilmers in to film their old records. If so, you may order copies of these records at your local LDS Family History Center.

---

Start With Yourself!   Interviewing Family Members   Collecting Documents   Visiting Localities   Researching Localities  

---

Cemeteries| Churches| Courthouses| Old Homesteads
Family Reunions| Migration Trails of Family

This website written and designed by:
Sharon Marie Centanne, Genealogy Research Instructor and Internet Trainer
Please direct any questions to: Sharon.

© Text Copyright Sharon Marie Centanne 1998-2006.
This page updated April 24, 2007

---