Budapest notarial deeds database

Overview

Historical Documents (e.g. Notarial sources; Census records; Ecclesiastical documents; Correspondence) Digitization of collections Persons data

The notarial deeds database processes series of deeds from private and state notaries in Budapest, extending from the establishment of the institution of notary (from 1875) till 1956. This is the largest, almost completely intact, and at the same time – because of the political and economic weight of the capital – the most important ensemble of notarial documents. At that time, the most varied civil law transactions could be recorded in deeds: these included, most importantly, sale and purchase, gift giving, cession, inheritance, marriage contract, adoption, testamentary arrangements, etc. The recording of the data from 1875 to 1950. Most of the database has digitized materials attached, which are freely accessible online to the general public.
The details of the parties making the transactions are featured in the records, as well as those of associated persons (lawyers). Since regular scrapping of these documents have been implemented only on the parts preceding World War I (concerning signature-verification protocols) and document decay has rarely happened, and because of the fact that certain documents and protocols were almost always recorded the customer’s status (occupation) and place of residence, this personal database is extremely rich. In many cases, we can identify and track whole series of legal transactions of some families and people. Almost one million documents can be found in the database which represents roughly one and half million customers.
The whole database with digitized pictures can be accessed through the Hungarian Cultural Heritage Portal

Project partners

With financial support by