Before searching for land records, locate the areas where your research subject lived.  Census records are excellent locators; there are also clues to land ownership in the census records.  The more information you have about your ancestor the easier the records are to identify.

In the Family History Library Catalog:

The goal is to locate media that contain the desired information.
        * You may find copies of the actual record.
        * You may find an extracted record.
There are a number of types of searches.  Two effective searches are:
        * Key Word Search -- example:  land records, Lucas, Ohio.
        * Place Search -- example:  Lucas, Ohio

One way to perform a Place Search:

    1.  Starting with the smallest governmental unit to the larger unit (County, State).
    2.  Choose the Place Search Result for the location in which you are looking.
    3.  Select the record that fits your search. You may find film, fiche, or books.  If film
         notes appear in the upper righthand corner, select this option.
    4.  Study the film notes to determine how these film are organized via place, date,
         surname, and/or given name.
    5.  Find the film number, then check to see if it is in the Mesa Regional Family
         History Center.
              * If it is at the Mesa Regional Family History Center, retrieve it and review
                 it on the film reader.  Go to www.mesarfhc.org, type in the film number in
                 the first category for "Search for films and fiche".
              * If the film is not there, order it in the Copy Room from Salt Lake. Then
                 retrieve it and review it on the film reader. 
    6.  Read over the available records.
              * Select the most logical listing, considering the date and location you are
                 searching.
              * If an index is available, use the index as you go through the film and find
                 your subject.  You may find a Book number and a Page number next to your
                 subject.  These refer to the County  Book and Page number where your
                 subject is listed.
              * Go back to the Land Records film notes and determine if the County Book
                 you are looking for has been filmed separately.  Obtain the film number and
                 then find the film.

Finding Land Records on the Internet www.glorecords.blm.gov - the General Land Office - Bureau of Land Management.

    1.  Choose "Search Land Grants".
    2   Type in the State and Surname (and given name if available).
    3.  Click on icon at the left of Name and it will take you to an Image of the Land
         Grant.
    4.  Copy the Legal Description, Public Land Office Assencion Serial Number (these
         are needed to get a copy of the Case File from the National Archives).
    5.  At www.archives.gov you can order a case file for the land records.  Follow the
         instructions at this site (there is a cost in obtaining Case Files).  These records
         can be very helpful or can give very little information.  Or they may give you
         valuable information, for example, parents' names, when they came to this
         county, birth dates, etc.

After every search make sure you document your findings and record them on your Research Log.  Place a source citation in your records.

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