Family historians write to courthouses for information that was created by, and for, their ancestors. This usually includes marriage, divorce, probate, and deed information.

Make sure you are asking for something that exists. The RedBook (copy located at many libraries) includes lists for each county that tell what kinds of records are available and the time span covered. When you write, you need to provide enough information so the recipient can quickly search the indexes and locate the record that names Grandma or Grandpa.

Provide complete names of your subjects. Tell what type of record you are searching (marriage, divorce, probate, deed, etc.). Tell when the event occurred. If you do not know the exact date, give an approximate date. Provide the place where the people were living. You can send a family group sheet if it will clarify your request.

Ask for one item at a time. In many courthouses, marriage records, probate records, and deeds are in separate offices. The clerks in one office often have no knowledge about the records in other offices. If you include a request that should go to a second office, your letter may be placed at the bottom of the "in" box and never leave it.

Don’t bore the clerk with your entire family history. A long, rambling letter is confusing. Is it important that the clerk knows that grandfather’s brother robbed a stagecoach in San Francisco? Unless that has direct bearing on the question at hand, leave it out. If you do not know the fee for the information, ask. Each courthouse has different fee structures. Some charge 25-cents per page while others charge $1.00 per page. If grandpa’s probate file is 75 pages long, you may want to consider which pages should be copied. Thank the clerk for their assistance. They usually have busy workdays, and most are over worked. Answering genealogical requests falls at the end of their workload after the court staff and the walk-in traffic have been serviced. The record books are heavy and dirty. If they have been microfilmed, the copy quality may be difficult to read and create eyestrain. These clerks really deserve our thanks.

Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. The courts may not use it, but it shows you intend to pay for services.

© 2000–2009

Connie Lenzen, CG

CG, Certified Genealogist is a service mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by Board-certified genealogists after periodic evaluation, and the board name is registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office.

The National Genealogical Society's "Research in the States" series includes an Oregon guide. To order a copy, go to the NGS website.