Government public records provide one of the best places to turn for details about the past. The written records of births, deaths, marriages and more are rich with dates, places, times, names and events.

Serving as excellent tools to fill in the gaps in research, public records may be available, but that doesn’t always mean they’re easy to get your hands on.

As you begin a serious study of your family’s history, you will find these documents, when you can get them, are valuable for helping you glean more about your family’s past than a single relative might be able to remember. Plus, with contracts, lawsuits and other legal documents added to the mix, a richer picture of the people who helped create your family line might become evident.

Once you make the choice to add to your study of your family’s past by including government records, it’s a good idea to know what might be out there.

Here are some items to consider looking up in areas where government documents are available or are in fact kept public:

1 - Birth records – These are sometimes kept private, but if you can prove lineage, and in some states if the person is deceased, they will be available. The value in these is not only to confirm birth dates and places, they also offer the names of both parents, which give you more links to the past.

2 - Death records – Public in a lot of jurisdictions, these too can offer a lot of information.

3 - Census information – These documents are generally public record and can provide a lot of information about your ancestors. The Internet is a good place to look for these records readily. Or, even check local libraries.

4 - Marriage licenses – The same for birth and death records apply here.

5 - Land transfer documents, lawsuits and other court records – If your ancestors have been involved in any legal transactions or actions, you might be able to find out more than you can guess by perusing old files.

Getting your hands on public records will vary from locale to locale. Some areas have very open records laws while others might require proof of your relations. In some states, written requests for the documents may be required.

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