This hefty volume is exactly what it says it is and then some. It doesn't beat around the bush by starting first with lessons on how to search and build your family tree like most books do (right down to what type of notebook you should use). Instead, it goes right to the heart of the matter - searching out legal documents on the courthouse level.

This book is very detailed and explains fully what you can find, how to find it, how to deal with staff, and more. This book would be best obtained when you have done most of your armchair work and have lists of names and some dates. Once you are ready to search out actual documentation at the courthouse level, this is a useful guide that can help you get through the hurdles.

Not for the beginner. Highly recommended for genealogists who are already well on their way to building their family tree.

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I found this book to be an excellent help for understanding these types of records. As I was reading it, I was able to compare what I was learning to records I have found before. It helped me realize what I actually had and understand what I was looking at, especially those indexes, and what I might still be missing. Now that many wills/probate records and deeds/land records are online at FamilySearch.org, I was able to pull up some of the records I need, and realize what might not be imaged and actually at the courthouse in a "packet". This is one of those basic "how to" books every genealogist should have in their library.

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