Accessing Locked Records
- Many of the records that I have found on FamilySearch (county wills, probate, property, etc.) are locked and can only be accessed from a Family History Center or Affiliated Library. Does FamilySearch offer a paid subscription service that allows access to these locked records? If not, it would be a nice option for those who have limited mobility or access to these locations.
Comments
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FamilySearch has a long and proud tradition of being free to use. I highly doubt that FamilySearch would want to implement such a policy. Furthermore, this would have to be agreed to by the record custodians, and there are various legal and commercial reasons why they would not want FamilySearch to operate as a subscription website and compete with the likes of Ancestry.com and FindMyPast. Remember also that FamilySearch has partnerships with just about all the major commercial websites. If they start charging fees, then those partnerships would end and the relationship between FS and those companies would change from being collaborative to competitive.
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If you specify which records you are trying to view, someone here with experience with those records or the region they're from might be able to help you find an alternative way to get access to the records.
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FYI
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
Just in passing ...
Short Answer; 'No'; and, 'FamilySearch' would NOT; as, 'FamilySearch' is a FREE website.
'FamilySearch', is bound by, the "Contractual Agreements" in place, between, 'FamilySearch'; and, the many various "Record" Custodians; as, to the accessibility, of "Records".
It is, the many various "Record" Custodians, that set/stipulate, the various "Restrictions", associated with their particular "Records".
And, NOT, 'FamilySearch'.
But ...
That Said ...
Do not disappear ...
There is a FREE "Look-Up "Service, through the "Family History Library" (FHL), of the Church, in 'Temple Square", Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, that one can avail themselves.
Please be aware, that there MANY be "Restrictions", that even precludes, the FHL, from providing "Records".
Here are a couple of Articles, with links to, that FREE "Look-Up" Service
'FamilySearch' "Blog"
New Library Lookup Service—For When You Can’t Visit the Family History Library
Family History Library
Family History Library Record Lookup Service
Now ...
That Said ...
The reasons for "Restrictions" for, "Indexes"; and, "Images", in 'FamilySearch', are somewhat explained, in the following "Knowledge Articles", in 'FamilySearch':
Why do some indexes have access limitations?
https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/why-are-some-indexes-restricted
Why are there access limitations on Historical Records?
What are the image restrictions in Historical Records?
Plus ...
What are Notes or Film/Digital Notes in the catalog?
Why is no camera icon showing for a digitized microfilm in the catalog?
Just my thoughts.
Brett
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