A: U.S. RECORDS 1: Records   2: Location, Maps, Geo   3: Regions / States   4: Timelines & Histories  |   B: VITAL RECORDS   1: Vital Rec.   2: Birth   3: Adoption   4: Marriage   5: Death, Obits   6: Cemetery  |   C: CENSUS   1: Records   2: By Decades  |   D: IMMIGRATION   1: Records   2: Passenger / Nat.   3: Other   4: Migration  |   E: MILITARY   1: Records   2: By Conflict  |   F: OTHER RECORDS   1: Religious   2: Land, Probate, Tax   3: Court   4: News.   5: Arch. / Lib.   6: Help   7: Misc.           KB    Translation Tips    Music      Print Friendly and PDF













United States


Goal F3: Court Records


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Goal F3: Explore court records online.


Your ancestors may have participated as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors in the U.S. court system.


ChoicesVault


A Learn about U.S. courts and records.


  1. Introduction: Get an introduction to court records in this MyHeritage Wiki article.

    MH—Wiki – U.S. Court Records

  2. Learn more about court records in these articles.

    FS—Wiki: U.S. Courts   
    FS—U.S. Court Records

  3. Here's a helpful research guide for U.S. court records, from Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness.

    Research Guide – U.S. Court Records

  4. Learn about U.S. courthouse research.

    Your Guide to Researching Your Family in Courthouse Records

  5. More: Learn more about court records for research on the RootsWeb site.
  6. Court Procedures: Learn about court procedures and research clues they might offer.

    Court Procedures

  7. Learn about records for civil and criminal courts.

    AAC—Civil and Criminal Courts—7:19

Exercises


B Use court records and electoral rolls for research.



    Court Records
  1. Learn how to find court records on the internet.

    FE—Genealogy: Finding Courthouse Records on the Internet

  2. Learn how to find ancestors in court records.

    GC—Ancestors in Court Records

  3. Courthouses: Get tips for visiting courthouses for research.

    TH—Visiting the Courthouse - 2019
    Preparing for Courthouse Research—3:23 - 2014



  4. Learn more about how to search for records in a courthouse.

    FE—Genealogy: Searching in a Courthouse

  5. Learn about records available from the recorder's office in this video.

    AAC—Recorder's Office—6:34

Electoral and Voting
Vault
  1. Learn about using electoral rolls in research.

    AC—Using Electoral Rolls in Family History Research—24:59 - 2016


    GT—Searching Electoral Rolls for Ancestors

  2. Voter Registration: Learn about using voter registration records in research.

    RT—Digging Deeper: Voter Registrations - 2019
    4 Powerful Ways You Need To Be Using Historical Voting Lists

  3. Voting Records: Read these articles to learn about the opportunities and challenges with voting records. (See also Goal 3 in each U.S. state page for more information on voting records.)

    GB—Genealogy 101: Voting Records, Part I
    GB—Genealogy 101: Voting Records, Part II - 2018

  4. Learn more about voter records in this MyHeritage article.

    MH—Voter Records

  5. Voter Lists: Explore voter lists by state on the Ancestor Hunt site.

Other
  1. Legal Notices: Learn about using legal notices in your research, such as repossessions, bankruptcies, and debt collections.

    BYU—Legal Notices for Genealogists—64:13 - 2017   



  2. Bankruptcy: Learn how to use bankruptcy records for research.

    AR: Using Bankruptcy Records for Genealogical Research - 2014

  3. Almshouse and Poverty: Learn about almshouse records.

    AC: Almshouse Records

  4. Learn more about poorhouse records in the United States.

    APL—Discovering Your Ancestors in Poorhouse Records—49:03 - 2021



Exercises

  Record Search Practice  |   Hints  |   Answers


QUIKLinks



C Learn about correctional institution and prison records for research.


Vault
  1. Learn about ancestors who were sent to jail.

    BYU—What If Your Ancestor Ended Up in Jail?—50:29 - 2023



  2. Black Sheep: Learn about researching "black sheep" ancestors.

    AR—Researching Black Sheep Ancestors - 2013
    AAC—Do You Have Black Sheep in Your Family?—1:46

  3. Learn more about tracing criminal ancestors in your tree.

    Tracing the Troublemakers - 2024
    AAC—Do You Have Black Sheep in Your Family?—1:46

  4. Explore the Black Sheep Ancestors site.
  5. Prison Records: Learn about researching prison records in these articles.

    FS—U.S. Correctional Institutions
    AC—Wiki: Prisons and Penitentiary Records

  6. Learn about finding records in the U.S. penal system.

    Tracing Missing Ancestors? - 2023

  7. Learn more about prison records and genealogy research.

    AF: Prison Records and Your Genealogical Research - 2017