Courthouse Etiquette and Ordering Information for Genealogical Material
 * May 2011 - NOTICE: The County advises that the 3rd floor (which used to be the County jail) of the annex is used for storage of many County records from various departments (Judge, Attorney, etc.), some of which are not yet public domain. Hence, anyone wishing to research public records there needs to check in with the County Clerk, Bette Sue Hoy (247-4455), to obtain permission. They want to know what records are being researched.

County Clerks and imployees are, for the most part, very helpful. But, if you make their job harder, they aren't going to even want to, help you! So be nice and remember your manners.

County Clerk's> jobs are, to record and file official documents of the county and maintain them in an environment that will safely preserve them. As much as we genealogists would like it, they don't exist for us and our "hobby" <Grin>

WHEN ORDERING BY MAIL:

When you write for copies of documents:

Tell the clerk which document you need, give them the name of person, and time period,
For instance, if it is a will or a marriage license or even a burial. Contact me, first and I will see if there is such a document.

Then you can write and give them the Bk & page #, if I have it.
If not, then you write and ask, (for instance):

"Please tell me if you have a will for John Doe, whom I believe died in Llano Co. about 1890.
If this document is found would you please notify me and tell me how much to send you, for a copy?"

If is a very common name or, if you believe there might be more than one person by this name you might tell them what the wife's name was or the children, to help them get the correct will.
But, they don't need to want to know the family history! The more pages of paper you sent, the more likely that, they may miss something important in finding your document. As Joe Friday said "Just the facts Ma'm"

Then, when you are notified whether the document exists, you will be told how much to send.


When you call the courthouse:

If you are calling about the material it is the same format, as above.
But, don't expect the clerk to do the look up and get the material contained in the document, over the phone.
In fact, it is best, just to write.


If you go in Person:

Llano County is one of the most "user friendly" court houses!!
The Llano Co. clerks are very nice and always helpful (at least they certainly have been to me!)

Don't go in asking for "everything" they have on your family. Do your homework before you go in and have your facts and dates at hand so your time will be well spent and fruitful!

If you are on a fishing expedition, then tell the clerk so, and find out how you need to proceed.
If you are trying to find out if this person existed in the county, then you need to look in census records, and other published documents in the Llano or Kingsland library BEFORE even going to the courthouse.

Ask for the documents needed, stating all known data about it (see above)
They will take you to the area, containing your request material and then make copies of it when, you find it.

Always, remember that even though you think YOUR family is fascinating, others probably won't think so.