Genealogy and Legal Documents

Are there any adoptions in the family? Older members of the family were raised in a tradition of never referring to adoptions, so you may have to hunt out adoptions in earlier generations as best you can.

Were any of your ancestors involved in a divorce? Remember, in earlier days, divorces were considered in many families to be something no one spoke of.

What do the land records tell you about what your family owned? Were they large landowners? Did they rent property to others as a source of income? When did they sell that land and to whom?

It is often the land which was the only asset of any value to be passed on. In many families, therefore, there may not be a will, but land records will show the passing of land from father to some or all of the children in the family.

Did a family member take out a mortgage for a land purchase. Most mortgages in earlier times were recorded in the land record office as well. Also recorded there is the clearing of the mortgage when it was paid off. So don't neglect the mortgage information found there.

Was an ancestor involved in a court case, civil or criminal? What was it about? What was the judgment? Finding court cases can be a big job since there are so many legal jurisdictions in a country to search out. However, you may find very interesting and unknown details about your ancestor's life through reading them.

Did your ancestors leave wills? What did they say? What further insight does that give you into your family dynamics? Where do you look for them? Were any of them contested? All sorts of information about families shows up in wills and the probate of them in the courts.