The Library of Virginia (LVA) is pleased to announce the completion of another digital scanning project. The processing, indexing, and digital reformatting of the Amherst and Nottoway County chancery causes is now complete. The index and images have been added to the newly redesigned Chancery Records Index <http://beta.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/> (CRI) which is now located on the Library's new home for the digital collections, Virginia Memory <http://www.virginiamemory.com/> . The Amherst County chancery collection covers the years 1773 through 1879 (additional pre-1913 cases remain in the courthouse). The chancery causes from Nottoway County begin in 1818 and continue through 1932. These localities join the growing list of counties and cities whose chancery causes have been preserved and made available through the Library's innovative Circuit Court Records Preservation Program, which seeks to preserve the historic records of Virginia's Circuit Courts. Please see the Chancery Records Index for a listing of additional locality chancery collections that are available. Chancery causes are cases that are decided on the basis of equity and fairness as opposed to the strictly formulated rules of common law cases. Chancery cases are especially useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes often contain correspondence; property lists, including slaves; lists of heirs; and vital statistics, along with many other records. Some of the more common types of chancery causes involve divisions of the estate of a person who died intestate (without a will); divorces; settlements of dissolved business partnerships; and resolutions of land disputes. If you have any comments, questions, or corrections regarding the CRI or scanned images, please contact [log in to unmask] ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html