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These are frequently asked questions (and answers!) about the Research Process and Contacting the Archives.
How do I get started researching my Litvak heritage?
A great place to get started is right here on the LitvakSIG.org website. If you are new to Lithuanian Jewish research, a good place to start on the site is the Family Research page. From there, you can follow the instructions and leverage other resources on this website and others.
When should I contact the archives?
You should contact the archives when you are ready to request a copy of specific records for your ancestors. Most archives in Lithuania no longer do personal research so you must do your own research or hire a private researcher to identify records of interest before contacting the archives. The archives will not copy entire lists, only selected records, e.g. a vital record or a revision list entry.
Additional information on the various Archives and Repositories which hold Litvak records can be found on this website.
Which archive(s) should I contact?
All data provided by LitvakSIG in the ALD or via LitvakSIG Projects contains information on the source archive and record reference information. You can use this information to identify the archive to write to for a copy of the record(s) as well as the reference information the archivist will need to find the record(s). See ALD Source References for further information on how to understand LitvakSIG data sources and references. Then you can find the contact information for each archive on the Archives and Repositories page of this website.
How do I make a request to the archives?
Each archive is independent and has its own procedures and policies. See the Archives and Repositories page of this website for additional information and links to specific repositories.
What should I send and not send to the archives with my request?
Since the archives are currently not performing personal research and your requests would be limited to copies of specific records you have identified, you should simply send your request with the record reference information.
You should not send a fee upfront with your request to the archives. Fees vary and depend on the information sought. Send your request first and the archives will reply with an explanation of the fee required and what form of payment they accept. Then you send payment. (Generally, the Lithuanian archives will accept payment via personal check as long as it is drawn on funds that are accepted worldwide and considered “hard currency” in Lithuania. If you use a postal money order, you should insure it is an International Postal Money Order as US Postal Money Orders are no longer valid outside the US and its possessions.)
You do not need to send your family tree to any archive.
How much does it cost and how do I pay the archives for a search?
Each repository is independent and has its own procedures and policies. See the Archives and Repositories page of this website for additional information and links to specific repositories.
How long does it take to get a response from the archives?
Each repository is independent and has its own procedures and policies. See the Archives and Repositories page of this website for additional information and links to specific repositories.
What language will the response from the archives be in?
Each repository is independent and has its own procedures and policies. See the Archives and Repositories page of this website for additional information and links to specific repositories.
How can I hire a private researcher / translator in Lithuania?
We suggest you post a request for recommendations for private researchers on the LitvakSIG Digest. LitvakSIG does not endorse any recommendations and advises anyone hiring a private researcher to check references thoroughly.
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