Country of Arrival Records -- Court Records Court records can be enormously helpful in determining a county of origin in Ireland due to the fact they often list place of birth, family members and/or property holdings in the old country. If you believe your ancestor may have been a plaintiff, defendant or witness in a court proceeding, then it's worth searching the old records. Court records prior to 1900 are generally not indexed well, while those pertaining to the colonial period can be fairly easy to search. If your ancestor was a laborer or farmer, then the chances of finding him in court records diminish. If your ancestor was professionally employed, your chances of locating information improve. The reason is the same as it is today -- it takes time and money to go to court. If you should locate an ancestor in court records, be sure to review all the documents. The case file, known as the packet, contains the depositions, affidavits and testimonies. It is in the affidavits and depositions that you will find the most useful information, i.e., where are you from/where were you born. Some court records have been microfilmed and can be found at the LDS or ordered through your local Family History Center. For more recent records, you will need to contact the courthouse directly. Take care, Tracy