HISTORICAL SOCIETY RESEARCH FACILITIES

Assisted research is provided to the Society's membership free of charge.

A fee of $8.00 for the first hour and $5.00 for each additional hour for non-members helps maintain the research facility.

Photocopying service is available at 25 cents per copy. Some material may be designated as not eligible for photocopying.

Research conducted by the Society's staff and experienced volunteer researchers can be provided at $15 per hour. Photocopying and postage are additional. The average request requires one to three hours of research.

If necessary, deeds and wills will be checked at the Court House for the same fee. For probate records, it is necessary for the researcher to make an initial visit to request files, with a follow-up visit at least a day later to view them.

Those who wish to write to the probate courts in New York State directly for information, are advised that each court, by law, must charge a fee. In Cortland County, that fee is $90 for records 25 years old and older; and, under 25 years old, the fee is $35. Photocopies are extra, and certified copies are $5 per page.

The search fees do not apply to the Society's researchers.

Pleased be advised, that New York State did not require municipalities to record vital statistics (birth, death and marriage) until 1882, and then, many did not until the 1900's. Therefore, it is not always possible to obtain this information. However, our researchers frequently can determine dates from other material in our files.

A person requesting research to be done for them, may state a limit of time, copies, etc., to be expended, if they wish. They may send a check to the Society as a deposit on their request, or wait for the Society to bill them. Payment is required upon receipt or the bill.