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A court record is a document created by or submitted to the judge, jury, or clerk of a court. The earliest German vital records were usually kept by one of many city courts. Some German cities began keeping records containing | A court record is a document created by or submitted to the judge, jury, or clerk of a court. The earliest German vital records were usually kept by one of many city courts. Some German cities began keeping records containing birth, marriage, and death information for certain segments of the population in the 1400s, but only a small fraction of Germans are represented in court records. | ||
In order to understand court records and how to retrieve them read this introduction [[:File:Locating common court records.pdf|here]]. | In order to understand court records and how to retrieve them read this introduction [[:File:Locating common court records.pdf|here]]. | ||
== Courts and Their Records == | == Courts and Their Records == | ||
Courts may be found on various levels of government: within the local community, on the district- or Kreis level, or higher. They vary widely in function and the types of records that may be created within their jurisdictions. Marriage contracts and permission papers, guardianship records, probate records, land records, and property transfers are some records kept by courts. | Courts may be found on various levels of government: within the local community, on the district- or Kreis level, or higher. They vary widely in function and the types of records that may be created within their jurisdictions. Marriage contracts and permission papers, guardianship records, probate records, land records, and property transfers are some records kept by courts. Marriage contracts are the most common early court records of value to family historians. | ||
There were over fifty kinds of courts (each with a different jurisdiction) in the German states before 1870. Court records are rarely indexed, so finding an ancestor in them is difficult. Search court records only after you have tried all other record types first. You may need professional help to use court records. | There were over fifty kinds of courts (each with a different jurisdiction) in the German states before 1870. Court records are rarely indexed, so finding an ancestor in them is difficult. Search court records only after you have tried all other record types first. You may need professional help to use court records. | ||
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===Heiratsvertrag=== | ===Heiratsvertrag=== | ||
Heiratsvertrag is a prenuptial agreement between couples. They | Heiratsvertrag is a prenuptial agreement between couples. They report their possessions and distribution of wealth to the court. Often aging parents are involved because the young couple will take over their possessions. In such cases the parents will determine how they want to be relocated and treated. Often there is a clause what should happen in case of death of either spouse. | ||
<br>Click [[Media:Actum_Treiss_.pdf|here]] to see some sample pages. | <br>Click [[Media:Actum_Treiss_.pdf|here]] to see some sample pages. | ||
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===Inventarium=== | ===Inventarium=== | ||
When a person dies, usually an inventory | When a person dies, usually an inventory of the estate of the deceased is made by the surviving spouse or relatives. Herein are listed the personal effects, household goods, cash and cattle etc. If children from a previous marriage are involved, they are counted in. The inventory is ratified by the court in the presence of several witnesses. | ||
Click [[Media:Estate.pdf|here]] to see some sample pages. | Click [[Media:Estate.pdf|here]] to see some sample pages. | ||
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===Erbbuch=== | ===Erbbuch=== | ||
An Erbbuch contains the inheritable properties (Erblehen) | An Erbbuch contains the inheritable properties (Erblehen) of a city/village, their owners, rights and obligations. The Erbbuch is also known as Grundbuch, Erdbuch, Landbuch or Salbuch. An example of an Erbbuch can be viewed at [http://www.museum-digital.de/san/index.php?t=objekt&oges=1519%20  museum-digital.] This particular book contains also all villages and their landowning population from 1642 which belonged to the administration of the magistrate in Jerichow. | ||
===Separationssachen=== | ===Separationssachen=== | ||
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