USING THE PROBATE INDEX Browse all possible spellings and look at the dates to determine if you have the correct individual. The index is by no means complete. New names are added to the list regularly. . Drop us an e-mail if you don’t see the name you want. Remember, the date shown is the filing date, not the date of death. Documents within the file will have varying dates.

HOW TO GET A COPY OF THE CASE FILE If you are interested in a case file, please e-mail us at info@cocohistory.com for a price quote. The cost includes retrieving the file, copying and mailing to you at First Class or US Priority rates. Files marked "[vouchers]" contain only the bills submitted by creditors to the estate for payment.

The labor to copy a file is considerable. Because our documents are the originals we cannot send them through an automatic copy machine. Each page must be hand placed, and then placed a second time if it has info on both sides.

If you live in our local area you can save a considerable amount of money by becoming a member and coming in to the History Center to do your own research. Hand place the documents yourself and pay only 25 cents a copy. No file retrieval fee, no postage.

CRIMINAL AND CIVIL FILES We have thousands of Case Files that are not Probates. Criminal and Civil files may include references to your ancestor. We will be happy to search the General Court Index for you on request and let you know if we have other cases involving the names you are researching. We will quote a cost for copying and mailing. Happy Hunting!

TO ORDER A CASE FILE SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO:

CONTRA COSTA CO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
610 MAIN ST
MARTINEZ, CA 94553