The Lure of the Land: 4 Types of Land Records That Can Help Solve Genealogy Brick Walls
Land records are some of the most underutilized, yet most useful, records available in genealogy. Often, they are the only records which sta…
Probate
“Was My Ancestor an Orphan?” Understanding Guardianship in Genealogy
Who is considered an orphan? Someone with no living parents? Not until the late 1800s. In this article we’ll explain what guardianship…
Intestate Succession – 50 Laws for 50 States
What are the rules? Who gets what? Each state maintains its own laws as to which family members will receive an inheritance from a person wh…
More Than Just Wills: The Parts of Probate
No genealogical research in America prior to the 20th century is complete without a search for probate records. Most of us are at least a li…
Per What?! Making Sense of Beneficiary Designations
“Per Stirpes,” “Per Capita to Children,” and “Per Capita to Heirs”- in this article we explain beneficia…