United States, How to Find Genealogy Records

United States  How to Find Genealogy Records This is a page is a series of links to Wiki articles on how to find various types of genealogically related records in the United States. The individual articles are arranged by subject heading. The subject headings may also include links to other related articles. You may also wish to search the Wiki for "How to Find" articles from various individual states. Please feel free to add new links or update existing links as it becomes necessary.

Family Records
Searching your own and family records is always the first place to start your genealogical research. Always ask relatives, both near and distant, if they have any records or photos of the family. Look for birthday cards, wedding announcements, birth notices, certificates and public documents such as driver's licenses. See also the following articles:


 * United States Genealogy
 * United States, How to Find Family Histories
 * Gather Family Information
 * Select Records to Search
 * Gather Family Information
 * Family Group Record Analysis: How to Guess Where to Start
 * United States Bible Records
 * How to Preserve and Restore Family Records and Books
 * Family Group Records Collection, Archives Section (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Visiting a Family History Center
 * How to Find Descendants in the United States

Birth Records
Birth records might seem like the first place to start your search, but experts recommend looking into death records first and marriage records second. Followed by Birth records, because birth records are usually the most difficult to find.


 * United States Birth Records
 * How to Find Birth Information in the United States
 * Using military records to find a soldier's birth information
 * United States, How to Use Birth Records
 * United States Vital Records
 * Locating United States Vital Records
 * Summary of Births in the United States by State
 * Birth certificate
 * U.S. Vital Records Overview
 * Online U.S. Marriage & Birth Records Indexes

See also: United States, How to Use Birth Records

Death Records
Many death records are little known and quite obscure. Be sure to look for mortuary records, burial permits, transportation records, funeral programs, obituaries, memorials and grave purchases in addition to death certificates or other formal records.


 * United States, How to Find Death Records
 * United States Vital Records
 * United States Death Records
 * Summary of Death Records in the United States by State
 * Deaths and Burials Vital Record Index Collections (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * United States Deaths and Burials (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Funeral Cards - A Little Used Resource
 * U.S. Vital Records Overview

See also United States, How to Use Death Records

Marriage Records
Be sure to search for wedding announcements in newspapers, anniversary announcements in newspapers, invitations to wedding receptions, announcement of banns, church notices, as well as marriage licenses and certificates.


 * United States Vital Records
 * United States Divorce Records
 * United States Marriage Records
 * Summary of Marriage Records in the United States by State
 * Online U.S. Marriage & Birth Records Indexes
 * U.S. Vital Records Overview

See also: United States, How to Use Marriage Records

Census Records
See also:
 * United States, How to Use Census Records
 * Using the Census to find other records about ancestors

Emigration and Immigration Records

 * Tracing Immigrants Arrival Search Tactics
 * United States Naturalization and Citizenship

Probate Records
See also: United States, How to Use Probate Records

Land and Property Records

 * United States, How to Find and Use a Map

Court Records

 * United States Court Records

Town and Local Records

 * United States Town Records
 * United States Civil Records

See also: United States, How to Use County and Town Records (Those Including Vital Records)

General or Unspecified Articles

 * How to Find a Coat of Arms or Crest
 * How to Find Information that was Donated to the Family History Library
 * How to Begin a Search for Your Ancestor