Denmark, Court Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Denmark

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes court records from 1854-1926. Court records are an account of court proceedings in deciding property disputes, guardianship, thefts, drunkenness, assaults, murders or other matters brought before a court. Ancestors may be found in court records perhaps as defendants, plaintiffs, or witnesses.

Most court records were kept beginning in the 1600’s and were filed first in the city courts (bytinget). Before the probate law of 1683, many probate records were part of the general court records. Probate records are available for viewing in the separate collection Denmark, Probate Records (FamilySearch Historical Records.

Reading These Records
These records are written in Danish with the exception of Schleswig and parts of northern Jutland where some records may be in German. A basic understanding of the Danish language is needed to read the records. For help reading these records see the following:
 * Denmark Handwriting
 * Danish Genealogical Word List
 * Denmark Language and Languages

Important words you may find in these records:
 * Advokat, sagfører – lawyer, attorney
 * Årstal = year
 * Birk = district
 * Borgerlige = civil cases
 * Byfogden =sheriff, judge
 * Byretten – district court
 * Bytinget =city court
 * Herred, herreder = District, districts
 * Højesteret – Supreme court
 * Justitsprotokol =justice protocol
 * Landsarkivet =country archive
 * Landsretten – High court
 * Magistraten =magistrate, judge
 * Rådstueretten = city hall courts
 * Skøde = deed (property)
 * Sogn = parish
 * Straffeattest = court records
 * Straffesager = criminal cases
 * Testes, vidner = witnesses

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 2

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add the new information to your records
 * Use the information to find the person in other records
 * Analyze the entry to see if if provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of his name
 * Try searching by surname only
 * Given names may not always be spelled exactly the same or be as complete as those recorded in vital records, and your ancestor may have used nicknames at different times.
 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor.

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Denmark.
 * Denmark Guided Research
 * Denmark Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Citing this Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.