So you send a request for your ancestor’s divorce, deed, criminal trial, or other old record to the courthouse that should have it—or you go to that courthouse—and the record isn’t there.
Here are some of the options that may help you:
Recheck your information
Were the names in your request spelled correctly? Did you give a woman’s maiden name when the record should be under her married name? Did you transpose numbers in the date? If so, correct your request and resubmit it.
Look for courthouse disasters
Local research guides and genealogical societies can also tell if a fire or other disaster destroyed records. If so, find out exactly which records were involved—some may have survived. Also, look for reconstructed records and other substitute sources.
Check local research guides
It’s possible the records were misplaced or filed elsewhere. After all, we’re talking about an entire county’s worth of paperwork in a pre-computer era. One thing to remember is that a clerk won’t be as highly invested in genealogy search as you are, and regular duties would take precedence over your request. Not all courthouses let researchers access the original records, so if it’s an option you’re considering, call first.
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