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From: Michael <m@nospam.com>
Subject: Re: Where to find UK court records from 1930's-1950's
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 20:12:03 +1200
References: <cqHEc.5800$LT3.230330@news.xtra.co.nz> <1088638314snz@ellson.demon.co.uk>
In-Reply-To: <1088638314snz@ellson.demon.co.uk>


Thanks Charles, I had a look in the Times indexes
but came up with nothing.

Cheers
Michael.

Charles Ellson wrote:

> In article <cqHEc.5800$> m@nospam.com "Michael" writes:
>
>
>>Hi
>>I live in New Zealand and am looking for court records for a civil case
>>that was done sometime between 1938 and 1952.
>>
>>I have letters from solictors talking about the case but would like to
>>see the actual records.
>>
>>The persons concerned in the case lived in London.
>>
>>The solictors were Herbert G Rastall & Jones.
>>
>>One of the letters mentions a summons to the Chancery Division of the
>>High Court. The letter is dated 29 Nov 1938 and the proceedings
>>were for "Friday next" (which I think was 2nd Dec 1938)
>>
>
> That's an English court case then, there are no UK courts. At that level
> in the system it is in effect a "national" court rather than one at local
> level, thus any records will be held in national archives.
>
>
>>Another mentions the proceedings went before the judge on
>>27 Jan 1939.
>>
>>Anyone able to suggest where I can look or
>>provide help please?
>>
>>BTW, this was a case regarding legitimasy so
>>could radically change my research direction! :)
>>
>
> The first two places for digging up court cases which aren't exactly
> fresh are usually the National Archives or newspapers. Depending on what
> the case actually concerned, the choice of newspaper will be variable but
> from NZL might be more accessible than the National Archives at Kew. If
> the case could have been described as routine or a bit boring for Joe Public
> then The Times (indexes exist which have widespread distribution) might
> be more likely to mention it than e.g the News of The World (and others)
> which would be more likely to feature something with a whiff of scandal
> (divorces mainly) although if it "involves legitimacy" then it could be the
> latter's territory. With your date range, searching out a copy of The Times
> index might be the preferred first option.

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