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''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[ | ''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United_States_Court_Records|Court Records]]'' | ||
Court records are usually searched after other records have already been investigated, but they should not be overlooked. Court records can establish family relationships and places of residence. They often provide occupations, descriptions of individuals, and other excellent family history information. [https://fch.ldschurch.org/WWSupport/Courses/FamilyHistoryLibraryExport/Goldmine__Beyond_the_Court_Order_Book/Player.html Watch a class about U.S. Court Records.] | Court records are usually searched after other records have already been investigated, but they should not be overlooked. Court records can establish family relationships and places of residence. They often provide occupations, descriptions of individuals, and other excellent family history information. [https://fch.ldschurch.org/WWSupport/Courses/FamilyHistoryLibraryExport/Goldmine__Beyond_the_Court_Order_Book/Player.html Watch a class about U.S. Court Records.] | ||
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Many other matters brought before a court. | Many other matters brought before a court. | ||
Because of their great importance to family history research, [[United States Probate Records]] and [[United States Naturalization and Citizenship]] are discussed in | Because of their great importance to family history research, [[United States Probate Records]] and [[United States Naturalization and Citizenship]] are discussed in separately. Divorces are discussed under [[United states vital records]]. | ||
Unfortunately, court records tend to be difficult to use. The records are usually not well-indexed, there are many records, court names and jurisdictions changed, and they use many legal terms and abbreviations. To interpret court records you may need to consult a dictionary, such as: | Unfortunately, court records tend to be difficult to use. The records are usually not well-indexed, there are many records, court names and jurisdictions changed, and they use many legal terms and abbreviations. To interpret court records you may need to consult a dictionary, such as: | ||
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The state court systems try both criminal and civil cases involving a state's constitution, laws, statutes, and local customs. Most civil cases and many criminal cases are tried in state courts. Most equity cases are tried in county or local courts. | The state court systems try both criminal and civil cases involving a state's constitution, laws, statutes, and local customs. Most civil cases and many criminal cases are tried in state courts. Most equity cases are tried in county or local courts. | ||
=== Major Types of Court Records <br> === | === Major Types of Court Records <br> === | ||
'''Dockets.''' Often called court calendars, these are lists of cases heard by the court. Dockets usually list the names of the plaintiff and defendant, the date the case was heard, the case file number, and all the documents related to the case. They are usually in chronological, not alphabetical, order, but they may be indexed. They serve as a table of contents to the case files. | '''Dockets.''' Often called court calendars, these are lists of cases heard by the court. Dockets usually list the names of the plaintiff and defendant, the date the case was heard, the case file number, and all the documents related to the case. They are usually in chronological, not alphabetical, order, but they may be indexed. They serve as a table of contents to the case files. | ||
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*Szucs, Loretto Dennis, and Sandra Luebking. ''The Archives: A Guide to the National Archives Field Branches''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry Publishing, 1988. (Family History Library book {{FHL|630522|title-id|disp=973 A3sz}}.) Pages 94-122 give federal court history and structure, record content and types, arrangement, finding aids, state-by-state location of records, and microfilm collections of court records at regional branches. | *Szucs, Loretto Dennis, and Sandra Luebking. ''The Archives: A Guide to the National Archives Field Branches''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry Publishing, 1988. (Family History Library book {{FHL|630522|title-id|disp=973 A3sz}}.) Pages 94-122 give federal court history and structure, record content and types, arrangement, finding aids, state-by-state location of records, and microfilm collections of court records at regional branches. | ||
The [http://www.virtualchase.com/topics/criminal_records.shtml Virtual Chase] is a website for Teaching Legal Professionals How To Do Research.The resources listed help find criminal records. Many provide records about convictions only. Be aware: There is no national criminal database available to those outside of law enforcement. Conducting a criminal background history requires manual research in the county or counties where the individual lives or has resided. | The [http://www.virtualchase.com/topics/criminal_records.shtml Virtual Chase] is a website for Teaching Legal Professionals How To Do Research.The resources listed help find criminal records. Many provide records about convictions only. Be aware: There is no national criminal database available to those outside of law enforcement. Conducting a criminal background history requires manual research in the county or counties where the individual lives or has resided. | ||
=== Court Records by State === | === Court Records by State === | ||
{{Court Records States}} | {{Court Records States}} | ||
=== Adoption Records === | === Adoption Records === | ||