Finland, Court Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Finland



What is in This Collection?
This collection consists of court records of Finland for the years 1584 to 1920. The records are in Swedish.

Sample Images
Content of the records varies by case. You may find any of the following:
 * Name or names of primary individuals
 * Date and nature of the court case
 * Names of family members or witnesses
 * Residences
 * Description of property
 * Monies exchanged
 * Birth, death or marriage details

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search it is helpful to know


 * Name of your ancestor
 * Identifying information such as residence

To search the collection ⇒ Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the "County" ⇒ Select the "Municipality" ⇒ Select the "Author" ⇒ Select the "Record Title" ⇒ Select the "Volume" which takes you to the images.

Look at each image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

For Help Reading These Records
These records are in Swedish so you will need to be able to understand written Swedish. For help with reading the records, please see the following wiki articles:


 * Sweden: Language and Languages
 * Swedish Genealogical Word List

What Do I Do Next?
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. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors. For example, use the name and parish of residence to search for baptism, confirmation, marriage and death records in the church records

I Can't Find Who I'm Looking For, Now What?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names.
 * Look for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby parishes and communities.

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