The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(This page's most recent update is December 2025)
Want to improve your newspaper research skills? Use the resources of the Newspaper Research Academy at Academy
Have you ever been deep into old court records, probate files, land documents, or early newspaper notices and wondered, “What on earth does this legal term mean?” Many expressions that were once common in legal proceedings have disappeared from modern usage, leaving genealogists puzzled when they encounter them. This Quicksheet provides clear, concise definitions of old and obsolete legal terminology so you can confidently interpret your ancestors’ court cases, disputes, property transactions, and legal notices.
Download the Quicksheet PDF
To obtain a four-page Quicksheet PDF of this information, download it by clicking on the Download button below:
For all the previously published Quick Reference Guides, click on QuickSheets.
Genealogy QuickSheets – Frequently Asked Questions
- 100 Best Free Online Genealogy Websites
- Beyond the Search Engine: Using Google Databases for Genealogy Research
- 64 Genealogy Items to Collect from Your Home
- United States Genealogical and Historical Societies
- 24 Places Where You Can Find Your Ancestors Occupation
- 13 Types of Genealogical Information You Can Find in Old Yearbooks
- 16 Places Where You Can Find Genealogy and Family History Books
- Easy Cousin Relationship Chart