Norway Land and Property

Land records generally start in the 1700s. These records contain information about real estate conveyances, mortgages, contracts, agreements, deeds, leases of land, and auction sales Pension contracts show the inheritance of property from one generation to the next. Land records often reveal family information, such as the name of a spouse, heir, and other relatives. From land records you may learn where people lived previously, their occupations, and other clues for further research. Sometimes you will find information about entire families.

For the period before 1700 you may wish to search court records. They contain similar property information.

The land records after 1865 are in the custody of the local magistrate [sorenskriver]. They are also available up to 1935 at the regional archives, but only in book form. The records before 1865 are in the custody of the regional archives and are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.

The land records are listed in the Family History Library Catalog under:

NORWAY, [COUNTY], [PARISH] - LAND AND PROPERTY.

Click here for an interesting article about land and tax divisions.

Land Records Online

Arkivverket has launched a new service at the Digitalarkivet Website. Land record indexes and land records are now on the internet: Digitsed Real Estate Registers. A description, in English, of how to use these registers is also found on this page.

Norway: Cottager Contracts

 (An example of what kind of information you may find in a Cottager Contract).
 

Norway: Retirement Contracts 

(Examples of what kind of information you may find in retirement contracts).