Recent French records: the 75-year rule and how to get a copy
French birth and marriage records less than 75 years old are not open to the public. Who can still obtain a copy, and how to request one from abroad.
Moselle Civil Records Online: How to Find Your Ancestor’s Birth, Marriage and Death Records
Moselle civil records from 1793 to 1904 are free to view online. What is there, what is missing, and three traps to avoid when searching from abroad.
Remembrance Day: How to Trace a Moselle Ancestor Who Fought in WWI
Most men from Moselle fought in the German army in 1914–1918. Casualty lists, war graves, reconstructed registers: the sources to trace your soldier ancestor, and the traps to avoid.
All Saints’ Day: Caring for a Loved One’s Grave in France When You Live Far Away
Living abroad and unable to visit a family grave in France for All Saints’ Day? Your options for having a loved one’s grave in Metz and its area cleaned and decorated, with before-and-after photos.
5 Clues in Your Family Papers That Point to a Lorraine Ancestor
“Born in Germany”, a German-sounding village, a sailing from Le Havre… Five clues that suggest your ancestor came from Lorraine, and how to confirm it in the French archives.