Notary archives: a treasure for genealogists

Leverage notarial archives to enrich your genealogical research and trace the history of your ancestors.

©️Pexels - John de Toshka

Delving into the intricacies of family history is a fascinating adventure for any genealogist. Among the essential secondary sources, notarial archives stand out for their wealth and diversity. These authentic documents, produced by notaries over the centuries, offer a unique window into the lives of our ancestors, their relationships, their assets, and their commitments. 

But how to efficiently navigate this wealth of information? What types of acts to look for? And where to find them? This article guides you through the intricacies of notarial archives to optimize your genealogical research.

Notary minutes and indexes: history, preservation, and consultation

The « minutes » are the original deeds drawn up by notaries. They are generally accompanied by summary registers called « indexes » which are daily recording tables.

The Edict of Villers-Cotterêts of 1539 recommends their keeping throughout the Kingdom of France, but this practice remains uneven, even on the eve of the Revolution. It is only in 1791, under the impetus of a decree-law, that the obligation to keep two copies of the indexes is established, the duplicate being deposited at the court registry. This measure will then be confirmed and perpetuated by the law of 25 Ventôse year XI (March 16, 1803), which lays the foundations of modern notary practice.

These documents, preserved in notary offices and then transferred to departmental archives after a 75-year period, are a goldmine for reconstructing family history. 

Most departmental archives services have digitized and put online some of these deeds to facilitate access for researchers. For non-digitized deeds, it will be necessary to go to the departmental archives in person to consult them.

Notarial archives: an invaluable resource for genealogy

Notaries, as public officials, are responsible for drafting and preserving authentic legal documents. Their archives contain a multitude of documents such as family records, property records, or credit records:

• Marriage contracts : they detail financial agreements and arrangements between the families of future spouses, providing valuable information about family relationships and estates.
• Wills : these documents reveal the last wishes of your ancestors, family ties, and the assets they passed on.
• Inventories after death : they list the possessions of a person at their death, providing a detailed overview of their lifestyle and environment.
• Guardianship or conservatorship accounts
• Acts of notoriety : on the declaration of several witnesses, they allow to establish the truth of a fact - such as the death of a person, for example.
• Apprenticeship contracts : they indicate the trades practiced and the training followed by your ancestors.
• Sales deeds, leases, and work estimates : they trace real estate transactions and rentals, allowing you to track the evolution of family properties.
• Credit records : receipts, obligations, annuities…

How to Access Notarial Records ?

To begin your research in the notarial records available at departmental archives, it is essential to know the notary's name, the location of the act, and an approximate date. Notary directories, which are true chronological indexes of past acts, are valuable tools to guide your investigations. In the absence of directories, the registers of act control or registration can serve as alternative sources to locate a specific document.

Notarial records are generally classified in the E series of departmental archives, although variations may exist depending on the region. It is therefore recommended to consult the specific research guides for each archives service for precise guidance.

Here is the list of archives services that have digitized and put online the notarial records: 

Departmental Archives: 

01 : Ain

02 : Aisne

05 : Hautes-Alpes

06 : Alpes-Maritimes

07 : Ardèche

08 : Ardennes

12 : Aveyron

13 : Bouches-du-Rhône

14 : Calvados

15 : Cantal

16 : Charente

17 : Charente-Maritime

18 : Cher

22 : Côtes-d'Armor

23 : Creuse

26 : Drôme

27 : Eure

29 : Finistère

31 : Haute-Garonne

33 : Gironde

34 : Hérault

35 : Ille-et-Vilaine

37 : Indre-et-Loire

39 : Jura

40 : Landes

42 : Loire

43 : Haute-Loire

44 : Loire-Atlantique

48 : Lozère

50 : Manche

58 : Nièvre

64 : Pyrénées-Atlantiques

66 : Pyrénées-Orientales

68 : Haut-Rhin

69 : Rhône

70 : Haute-Saône

71 : Saône-et-Loire

72 : Sarthe

73 : Savoie

74 : Haute-Savoie

76 : Seine-Maritime

77 : Seine-et-Marne

78 : Yvelines

79 : Deux-Sèvres

80 : Somme

81 : Tarn

82 : Tarn-et-Garonne

83 : Var

85 : Vendée

86 : Vienne

87 : Haute-Vienne

92 : Hauts-de-Seine

93 : Seine-Saint-Denis

Our tips for effective research

• Preparation in advance: gather all the information you already have about the ancestor you are researching, such as key dates and places, to focus your research.
• Use of online tools: many archive services offer research aids and other tutorials to guide you in your research into notarial archives.

The notarial archives are precious allies for any genealogist looking to delve deeper into their family history. They offer intimate and concrete details about the lives of our ancestors, their relationships, and their possessions. By leveraging these resources with method and rigor, you can significantly enrich your family tree and bring the names it contains to life.

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