While researching your family tree you may have heard that a trip to a
courthouse should be a last resort. Often this advice is passed along as a
result of a futile trip, or similar unhappy experience. However, that is
just not true; a trip to the local courthouse can result in a great deal
of information that may be valuable to your genealogical searches. To
avoid this, make sure that you know what you are looking for in your
family tree, and that you are aware , where information useful to filling
out your family tree is located in the courthouse. Once you have
this lined up, you will see that a trip to the courthouse really can be a
profitable trip. All it takes is some preparation and discipline to make
it worth your time.
First things first, a courthouse can provide a wealth of genealogy
information. IAs it is home to records going back as far as the courthouse
itself in many instances including property records, wills, birth
certificates, death certificates and so forth, the bedrock of building a
family tree. However, you have to know what you are looking for when you
go into the courthouse records, in order to ensure your trip pays off.
Here are a couple of tips.
First of all, consider this: you will be going into the record books at
the court house. They are large and heavy often, weighing up to 20 pounds
each, with one page often covering most of the glass on a photocopier.
They are located in racks that are metal and have pockets, that are sized
to hold each large record book. Each of these pockets is generally
equipped with rollers that allow you to slide them in and out. They can
also be located as high as 6 feet up and as low as the floor. Proceed with
caution if you have back or knee trouble. Try to avoid the days the
court is in session and that most real estate closings occur at the end of
the month, so the court is liable to be filled with lawyers and clerks.
Consider making your trip to the courthouse during the middle two weeks of
the month if you plan to peruse the records.
In order to maximise your time for researching your family tree, when
you arrive at the courthouse you should ask if the records you are seeking
are there. Many court houses have moved most of their older family tree
records to the state archives, sometimes these moved Irish family tree
records have been converted to microfiche. There is also a chance you will
be told that records aren't there simply because not every courthouse
clerk is receptive to genealogists. They reckon if they tell you the
records are not there, that you will go away. Feel free to do a
quick search anyway. If you are told they are at the state archives, its a
good idea to follow up phone call just to be sure.
In order to make your trip to the courthouse as productive as possible,
you should make sure that you are going into the visit with a plan, why
not prioritise what you are looking for. It can be hard to
prioritise, so why not put the items that you have been searching for the
longest on top of the list. In order to keep yourself focused once you are
in the room, write out your priorities and take them with you. Index
cards, or a typed page will all work just fine. Make sure that you keep
yourself focused so that you get as much done as possible in the time you
are there. Remember, productivity is the key to this trip.
Genealogy can be an amazing hobby, but there is so much you want to find
out that you find yourself stuck. Many times experts will tell you to
avoid that trip to the courthouse like the plague. You may be told that
you are not welcomed there, that the trip will be unproductive, and that
you will deal with rude lawyers all day. That all may be true, but there
is a way to make sure your trip is as productive as possible. Make sure
that you are aware of the procedures and "tricks" used to avoid
being uninvited. In addition, make sure you have a plan going in. Your
time will be limited so you need to be focused and on task during the time
you are there. Follow these handy tips and no matter and your trip to the
court house will give a wealth of Irish family tree information and bring
new genealogy records to light about your Irish ancestry and family tree
About the Authors
Paul Duxbury and Kevin Cook own www.amateur-genealogist.com and www.our
familytrees.co.uk two of the leading Genealogy Websites. In
addition Paul owns a wide range of exciting websites which can be viewed
at www.paul duxbury.com
