01 · Poland research
Use the archive catalogue as a map
Szukaj w Archiwach brings together descriptions and digitised material from participating repositories. A useful result may be a collection description rather than a record naming your ancestor. Follow the hierarchy from archive to collection, series and individual register or file.
Write down the reference at each level. This helps you return to the correct material and gives the archive something precise to check when a file is not available online.
02 · Poland research
Identify the archive for your question
Use the State Archives genealogy guidance to distinguish civil registration records from parish material. Church repositories and parish offices may need to be considered alongside state archives. An office holding a recent certificate is not necessarily the place holding an older duplicate.
Think beyond parish registers when your question concerns residence, property or a career. The official guidance also identifies population, court, notarial and educational material as possible genealogical sources. Their usefulness depends on the locality and the surviving series.
03 · Poland research
Ask about holdings before commissioning a search
A concise enquiry should name the locality, period, community and record type. Ask whether a relevant register survives, where it is held and whether it has a digital copy or finding aid. Distinguish this holdings enquiry from a request to research several generations.
Before arranging a visit or copies, check the repository's current ordering and reproduction instructions. Record an archive's negative reply alongside your searches so that the same request is not repeated without a reason.
What to prepare for this search
- A specific question, such as locating one marriage register.
- Historical locality and the administrative or church district.
- Collection and file references found in the catalogue.
- Your preferred outcome: holdings information, a research image or an official document.
Keep a note of what each document says and which details still need checking. The research checklist can help you assemble the starting information.
Sources and research tools
Use these official catalogues and guides to check which records survive and where to find them.
- Polish State Archives: genealogy
- Szukaj w Archiwach: official archive search
- Polish State Archives: databases
Resources reviewed 17 October 2026. Collection availability and services can change.