Heron By The Sea asked:
What is the procedure? What do they have in there, and do they just let you go in and sort through it all?
Joanne
What is the procedure? What do they have in there, and do they just let you go in and sort through it all?
Joanne
Most courthouses have big books that list everything. You go thru the book and then tell the Clerk what you want and she goes and gets it. No they don’t let you just rummage thru these documents.
My experience is different from Holly’s. The majority of court houses that I have been to, will show you where the appropriate files are. Many times, they are busy with current business, and not available to help. In some courthouses, they are less than willing to allow access to books, but it may depend on the type of record since some are not as public as others. I think a lot depends on the actual size of the courthouse, and their attitude towards research. I have found some to show annoyance, and others are cordial.
Most of the records I have wanted to see are much older records, often stored in basements or dusty rooms. Dress accordingly. Remember that their purpose is not genealogy per se.. there will be marriage books, probate files, and land records. Copying is usually restricted to the clerks, once you find what you want.
Your best bet is probably to contact the county genealogical group where the courthouse is. Someone in it can tell you what the procedure is and help you find the most helpful person at the courthouse is. In return, you’ll need to tell everything you know about your family that lived/lives there. You may find that some distant cousin has already done that work and will trade it for more recent updates on your “line.”
In addition to marriages (if any), deeds, and wills, be sure to check for criminal and civil cases that your relatives may have been involved in. For example, a child left out of a will might have contested it, but you wouldn’t know that just from reading the will.