Netherlands, Utrecht, Notarial Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
Notarial records in this collection are from several municipalities in Utrecht for the years 1580-1815. Original records are located in the Regionaal Historisch Centrum Rijnstreek en Lopikerwaard, Woerden, Utrecht, Netherlands. These notary records include the following municipalities: • 3 While you will find all kinds of legal documents in notarial records, the most useful for genealogical research include:


 * Wills [testamenten]
 * Marriage contracts [huwelijksvoorwaarden]
 * Divisions of estates [boedelscheidingen or akten van scheiding en deling]
 * Appointments of guardians [benoemingen van voogden or voogdij]
 * Land transfers [transporten van onroerend goed, akten van verkoop, vestbrieven or recognitieën]
 * Mortgages [hypotheken]

Reading These Records
These records are written in Dutch. For help reading these records see: FamilySearch Learning Center videos:
 * Dutch Genealogical Word List
 * Netherlands Handwriting
 * Reading Dutch Handwritten Records Lesson 1 - The Dutch Alphabet
 * Reading Dutch Handwritten Records Lesson 2 - Dutch Words and Dates
 * Reading Dutch Handwritten Records Lesson 3 - Reading Dutch Records

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

Wills (testamenten)
 * Name of the deceased
 * Death date and/or place
 * Names of heirs and relatives
 * Listing of property

Marriage contracts (huwelijksvoorwaarden)
 * Date and place of event
 * Name of bride and groom
 * Residence, marital status, age
 * Names of parents
 * Names of witnesses

Divisions of estates (boedelscheidingen or akten van scheiding en deling)
 * Estate owner
 * Names of relatives
 * Residence

Appointments of guardians (benoemingen van voogden or voogdij)
 * Names of guardians
 * Names of children needing guardianship
 * Ages
 * Residence
 * Relationships

Land transfers (transporten van onroerend goed, akten van verkoop, vestbrieven or recognitieën)
 * Name of land owner
 * Name person acquiring land
 * Description of land
 * Date of transfer
 * Details of transaction

Mortgages (hypotheken)
 * Names of borrowers
 * Names of lenders
 * Description of property and value

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?

 * Use the age in the citizen to find an approximate birth year to begin your search in church or civil records.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have moved, been recruited or lived nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify. Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual. This compiled list can help you identify possible relations that can be further verified by researching vital records indexes in the country.
 * When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details such as a title, an occupation, or land ownership. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors.
 * Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900.

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

 * Keep in mind that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images. Pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation.
 * Earlier records may not contain as much information as the records created after the late 1800.

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Netherlands.
 * Netherlands Guided Research
 * Netherlands 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.