Denmark Court Records: Difference between revisions

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''[[Denmark Genealogy|Denmark]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Denmark_Court_Records|Court Records]]''  
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==Online Resources==
*'''1567-1805''' {{FSC|426519|title-id|disp=Tingbøger, 1567-1805}}(*); Landsting (Viborg) at FamilySearch Catalog - images; jurisdiction over Jylland
*'''1569-1666, 1703-1805''' {{FSC|466600|title-id|disp=Dombøger 1569-1666, 1703-1805 }}(*); Landsting (Viborg) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
*'''1630-1805''' {{FSC|13944|title-id|disp=Skøder, 1630-1805 : proklama, kundgørelser, beskikkelser samt forskelligt civil- og kriminalretsligt}}(*); Landsting (Sjællandsfars) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
*'''1676-1805''' {{FSC|426040|title-id|disp=Tingbøger, 1676-1805}}(*); Landsting (Sjællandsfars) at FamilySearch Catalog - images; court records of estates and judicial districts of Sjælland
*'''1699-1799''' {{FSC|497279|title-id|disp=Supplikerne, 1699-1799 }}(*); Kammerretten at FamilySearch Catalog - images
*'''1805-1860''' {{FSC|426523|title-id|disp=Tingbøger, 1805-1860}}(*); Landsoverret (Viborg) at FamilySearch Catalog - images; jurisdiction over Jylland
*'''1805-1861''' {{FSC|426875|title-id|disp=Dombøger, 1805-1861 }}(*); Landsoverret (Viborg) at FamilySearch Catalog - images; jurisdiction over Jylland


<Br>
Court records offer information about how your ancestors lived. Three kinds of court records are kept in Denmark:  
Court records offer information about how your ancestors lived. Three kinds of court records are kept in Denmark:  


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! scope="col" bgcolor="d6aed6" | You Can Use this Record to Find...
! bgcolor="d6aed6" scope="col" | You Can Use this Record to Find...
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*[[Denmark: Finding Birth Information|Birth Information]]<br>  
*[[Denmark: Finding Birth Information|Birth Information]]<br>  
*[[Denmark: Finding Marriage Information|Marriage Information]]  
*[[Denmark: Finding Marriage Information|Marriage Information]]  
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The records kept by the ''herred, birke'', and ''byting'' courts contain much genealogical information, especially regarding inheritance matters. However, they are usually hard to read and understand, and most of them are not indexed. Some indexes can be found in court records after 1801.  
The records kept by the ''herred, birke'', and ''byting'' courts contain much genealogical information, especially regarding inheritance matters. However, they are usually hard to read and understand, and most of them are not indexed. Some indexes can be found in court records after 1801.  


== Court Records [Retsprotokoller] ==
== Court Records (''Retsprotokoller'')  ==


Research use: Records are useful linkeage sources.
Court records contain minutes of cases held by the court. Generally they include details on the charges against a person, witness testimony, and judicial decrees. They are useful sources to link individuals and family members to one another. Records date from about 1565 to present and contain the names, ages, occupations, residences, dates, often names of close relatives of plaintiffs and defendants. Records are held in municipal, provincial, or national archives based on the jurisdiction of the court.
 
Record type: Records of acts and proceedings of a court that hears cases and decides them on the basis of statutes or common law.
 
Time period: 1565 to present.
 
Contents: Names, ages, occupations, residences, dates, often names of close relatives of plaintiffs and defendants.
 
Location: Municipal and provincial archives.
 
Percentage in Family History Library: 90%.
 
Population coverage: 10%.
 
Reliability: Very good.<ref name="profile"/>


== Chancery Records  ==
== Chancery Records  ==
Another source is the [[Danish Chancery Court Records|Danish Chancery Court Records]]. Chancery records were the records of the king's court and were a type of court record. They include requests made to the king, such as requests for confirmation (authorization) of wills, review of previous court's decisions, permission to marry a cousin, and authority for an underage heir to act as his own guardian.


Another source is the [[Danish Chancery Court Records|Danish Chancery Court Records]]. Chancery records were the records of the king's court and were a type of court record. They include requests made to the king, such as requests for confirmation (authorization) of wills, review of previous court's decisions, permission to marry a cousin, and authority for an underage heir to act as his own guardian. <br>
== Guardianship Records [Overformynderiprotokoller]  ==
Research use: Very useful lineage-linking source. Relationship information is given so that blood lines of adoptees and orphans can be identified.
Record type: Records of those who have care of underaged heirs after the death of parents.
Time period: 1570 to present.
Contents: Information about the ward and when and from whom (family member or other person) inheritance was received; information about the guardian and his relationship to the ward, and expenses charged to the estate. At times two generations are mentioned, when both parents and grandparents passed away during the ward's minor state. Dates of birth or christening may be given.
Location: National and provincial archives.
Percentage in Family History Library: 90%.
Population coverage: 10%.
Reliability: Excellent.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Denmark,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1987-1998.</ref>
== Family History Library Collection  ==
Many Danish court records are available on microfilm. You find the records in the FamilySearch Catalog under:
DENMARK - COURT RECORDS
DENMARK - [COUNTY] - COURT RECORDS
== References  ==
{{reflist}}
{{Place|Denmark}}


[[Category:Denmark|Court]]
[[Category:Denmark Court Records]][[Category:Court Records by Country]]

Latest revision as of 20:36, 11 August 2025

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Online Resources[edit | edit source]


Court records offer information about how your ancestors lived. Three kinds of court records are kept in Denmark:

You Can Use this Record to Find...
  • Cases regarding land rights
  • Inheritance (probate) cases
  • Theft and murder cases

The records of the probate court and land records are explained in the "Probate Records" and "Land Records" sections.

Most court records start sometime in the 1600s, and they contain both criminal and civil action. Before the probate law of 1683, many probate records were part of the general court records.

Herred and Birke Court Records[edit | edit source]

Denmark is divided into civil districts called herred and birke.

Until 1805, cities comprised two court jurisdictions. The Bytinget is the city court. (The judge is called Byfogden.) The Rådstueretten is the city hall court. (The judge is called the Magistraten.)

In the 1700s, the city court [Bytinget] was the court of first instance (the court where a case starts) in general cases. City hall courts [Rådstueretten] handled matters of commerce, such as citizenship records. See the "Occupations" section.

The records kept by the herred, birke, and byting courts contain much genealogical information, especially regarding inheritance matters. However, they are usually hard to read and understand, and most of them are not indexed. Some indexes can be found in court records after 1801.

Court Records (Retsprotokoller)[edit | edit source]

Court records contain minutes of cases held by the court. Generally they include details on the charges against a person, witness testimony, and judicial decrees. They are useful sources to link individuals and family members to one another. Records date from about 1565 to present and contain the names, ages, occupations, residences, dates, often names of close relatives of plaintiffs and defendants. Records are held in municipal, provincial, or national archives based on the jurisdiction of the court.

Chancery Records[edit | edit source]

Another source is the Danish Chancery Court Records. Chancery records were the records of the king's court and were a type of court record. They include requests made to the king, such as requests for confirmation (authorization) of wills, review of previous court's decisions, permission to marry a cousin, and authority for an underage heir to act as his own guardian.