Notarial Records in Poland

Notarial records in Poland provide a wealth of information for genealogists researching family history. Unlike church registers, which document births, marriages, and deaths, notarial acts reveal details about property ownership, inheritance, business transactions, dowries, and legal disputes. These documents often contain names of family members, addresses, and financial dealings, making them indispensable for tracing ancestors. However, accessing and understanding these records requires knowledge of Poland’s historical divisions, as notarial practices varied under different partitions (Austrian, Prussian, and Russian). This article explores what can be found in Polish notarial records, where to locate them, and how historical contexts affect their availability.

Types of Notarial Records in Poland

Notarial records in Poland covered a wide range of legal and economic matters. Some of the most valuable for genealogical research include:

• Wills and Testaments (Testamenty) – These documents outline the division of an individual’s estate after death, often listing heirs and their relationships. They provide insight into family structures and property ownership.
• Inheritance Agreements (Umowy spadkowe) – If no formal will was made, inheritance was often settled through notarial agreements, detailing the division of assets among family members.
• Real Estate Transactions (Umowy kupna-sprzedaży nieruchomości) – Property sales recorded by notaries include names of buyers and sellers, descriptions of land, and transaction dates, which help trace ancestral movements.
• Marriage and Dowry Contracts (Umowy przedślubne, umowy posagowe) – These agreements formalised financial arrangements in marriage, particularly among wealthier families, offering clues about social status and family networks.
• Business and Loan Agreements (Kontrakty handlowe, weksle, długi) – If an ancestor owned a business or was involved in trade, notarial records may document financial transactions, debts, and partnerships.
• Powers of Attorney (Pełnomocnictwa) – Individuals who could not be physically present at legal proceedings granted power of attorney to others, which may reveal details about migrations or military service.
• Legal Disputes and Settlements (Ugody, procesy sądowe) – Some family disputes, particularly over property or inheritance, were recorded by notaries, offering valuable details about conflicts and family connections.

Need Help Finding Polish Notarial Records? Let Us Assist You!

Notarial records are a goldmine of genealogical information, revealing property transactions, inheritance details, business dealings, and legal disputes. Unlike church records, these documents provide insight into your ancestors’ financial status, land ownership, and family relationships. However, due to Poland’s historical partitions and multilingual record-keeping, accessing and interpreting these files can be a challenge. Understanding Polish notarial records requires specialized knowledge. Let our expert genealogists assist you in accessing and interpreting these valuable documents.

How We Can Help:

✔️ Locating notarial records in Polish, Austrian, Prussian, and Russian archives.
✔️ Translating and analyzing legal documents in Polish, German, Latin, and Russian.
✔️ Tracing property and inheritance records to reconstruct family history.
✔️ Providing expert guidance on archival research and historical jurisdictions.

The Impact of Poland’s Partitions on Notarial Records

Between 1795 and 1918, Poland was divided among three empires—Austria, Prussia, and Russia. Each occupying power imposed its own legal system, affecting how notarial records were created, stored, and structured. Understanding these differences is essential for genealogical research.

Notarial Records in Austrian Poland (Galicia)

• The Austrian partition covered southern Poland, including Kraków and Lwów (now Lviv, Ukraine).
• The Austrian Civil Code of 1811 required strict notarial procedures, meaning detailed wills, property sales, and inheritance agreements were common.
• Notarial acts were mostly written in German, with some in Latin or Polish.
• Records from this period are well-preserved and often found in State Archives in Kraków and Lviv.

Notarial Records in Prussian Poland

• The Prussian partition included western Poland, such as Poznań (Posen) and Gdańsk (Danzig).
• Notaries operated under Prussian law, which emphasised precise documentation, particularly for property transactions.
• Documents were primarily in German, and property transactions often included detailed maps.
• Many records from this region are held in Poznań’s State Archives or German archives if they were taken after WWII.

Notarial Records in Russian Poland

• The Russian partition covered central and eastern Poland, including Warsaw, Lublin, and Vilnius.
• Russian authorities introduced their own legal codes, making notarial records more bureaucratic and less detailed than in Austrian and Prussian territories.
• Many documents were written in Russian (Cyrillic script), especially after 1868, though older ones may be in Polish or Latin.
• These records are often found in State Archives in Warsaw and Lublin, though many were lost or relocated.

Where to Find Polish Notarial Records?

Notarial records in Poland are stored in different repositories depending on their age, location, and historical jurisdiction. The most useful sources include:

• State Archives (Archiwa Państwowe) – The primary repository for historical notarial records, with major archives in Warsaw, Kraków, Poznań, and Lublin. Many records are indexed in the Szukajwarchiwach.pl database.
• Regional and Municipal Archives – Local archives often house 19th and 20th-century records, especially for smaller towns and villages.
• Parish and Diocesan Archives – Before the formalisation of notarial services, some contracts, wills, and dowry agreements were recorded by parish priests.
• Court Archives (Archiwa sądowe) – Legal disputes over inheritance or property were often settled in court, and these records can supplement notarial documents.
• German and Russian Archives – Some records from former Prussian and Russian-controlled regions are held in Berlin, Moscow, or St. Petersburg.

Challenges in Accessing and Interpreting Notarial Records

While notarial records are valuable for genealogical research, several obstacles make them difficult to access and use:

• Language Barriers – Documents may be written in Latin, German, Russian, or archaic Polish, requiring translation and paleographic expertise.
• Handwriting and Terminology – Many records use old legal terms and handwritten scripts that are challenging to decipher.
• Privacy Restrictions – Some 20th-century records remain restricted due to Polish data protection laws.
• Geographic Dispersal – Because Poland’s borders shifted after WWII, many records are now in archives outside Poland, particularly in Ukraine, Belarus, and Lithuania.

How Professional Genealogists Can Assist in Researching Notarial Records

Given the complexity of Poland’s notarial system, hiring a professional genealogist can save time and improve research accuracy. Specialists can:

• Identify which archives hold relevant records based on historical jurisdiction.
• Translate and interpret documents written in Polish, Latin, German, or Russian.
• Navigate legal restrictions and archival access rules to obtain necessary documents.
• Provide historical context to understand what the records reveal about an ancestor’s life and status.

If you’re searching for your Polish ancestors through notarial records, professional assistance ensures a more thorough and efficient process. Contact us today for expert genealogy research tailored to your family’s history.