• What information is on Qld birth, death and marriage certificates?  How do I obtain them?
• How do I find out what ship my ancestor came on?
• How do I get a copy of a Qld will?
• Why was my ancestor in Dunwich Benevolent Asylum?
• What if I can't find a death registration?
• How can I trace ancestors who vanished?
• How do I find records of someone who was arrested or imprisoned?

• Births:  name;  date/place of birth;  sex;  father's name, age, occupation, birthplace;  mother's maiden name, age, birthplace;  previous issue of parents' marriage (names/ages of children living, number/sex of children deceased);  witness present at birth [before 1980];  informant's name, residence, relationship to child.  Pre-1890 certificates supplied as photocopies occasionally have annotations giving year of death, married surname etc.  [NOTE:  parents' date/place of marriage is usually on pre-1890 certificates supplied as photocopies, but for births registered in or after 1890 your application must ASK for that information.]
• Marriages:  Bridegroom's and bride's name, occupation, residence, conjugal state, age [to Aug 1963] or birthdate [from Sep 1963], birthplace, father's name and [to Aug 1963] occupation, mother's maiden name. Date/place of marriage ceremony, celebrant, denomination, witnesses.
• Deaths:  name;  date/place of death;  occupation;  age;  birthplace;  how long in Australia;  married where, at what age, and to whom;  issue (names/ages of children living, number/sex of children deceased);  father's name/occupation;  mother's maiden name;  cause of death;  duration of last illness;  doctor's name;  when last seen by that doctor;  date/place of burial/cremation, and by whom certified [usually an undertaker];  name/religion of minister and/or names of two witnesses to burial;  informant's name, residence and relationship or description.
• For instructions on ordering certificates, and advice on a cheaper way to obtain some death certificates, see Queensland Genealogy Research Tips.

How do I find out what ship my ancestor came on?

Brief advice about immigration records is on Queensland Genealogy Research Tips. A more detailed article is in the 2008 edition of the book Tips for Qld Research.

How do I get a copy of a Qld will?

Most wills that went through the Qld Supreme Court (though not all) are at Qld State Archives, and indexes are available. For more information see Queensland Genealogy Research Tips and the 2008 edition of the book Tips for Qld Research.

Why was my ancestor in Dunwich Benevolent Asylum?

Dunwich provided a home for poor people who because of age, accident, infirmity or otherwise were unable to care for themselves. For a free email brochure about records of Dunwich inmates, contact (type this into an email headed 'Dunwich brochure please').

What if I can't find a death registration?

Keep an open mind about spelling variants. The authorities may not have written the name as your ancestor spelt it, or the name may be incorrectly indexed. Many unregistered deaths can be found via inquests, mental asylum records, Police Gazettes and various other sources and research strategies described in the 2008 edition of the book Tips for Qld Research.

How can I trace ancestors who vanished?

It depends when/where they were last seen. See 'People who vanished' on Queensland Genealogy Research Tips.

How do I find records of someone who was arrested or imprisoned?

Depending on the severity (or otherwise) of the offence, sources that may be useful include various Court records, registers of criminal depositions, Police Gazettes, Police Station watchhouse charge books, CPS police charge bench books, murder files, and prison records. Some are indexed. For a free email brochure on this subject, contact (type this into an email headed 'Criminal Records brochure please').