You Can't Believe Everything You Read

It is very important to evaluate the source of your information and the possibilities for inaccuracies, especially if you find information online.

Keep in mind:

1. When you find new information for your family tree, check for inconsistencies. For example - where two children in the same family were born on dates that were impossibly close together.

2. Try to verify the information using other documents, when you come across problems. Most genealogical information can be found in more than one place, so take the time to check other documents out.

3. When was the record created? Records that were made at the time of the event are more likely to be correct than those made several years later. For example, birth dates are often listed on a death certificate, but you are more likely to get the correct date when you find it on a birth certificate.

4. Unless they are willing to share documentation, use what you find only as a guideline and set out to prove it right or wrong.

Some further reading and tips:

Why Bother? The Value of Documentation in Family History Research

Genealogy Documentation

Documenting Your Genealogy Research - Guide to Citing Sources

Be sure to visit Looking 4 Kin Genealogy Links and Chat.

While there stop into Looking 4 Kin Genealogy Chat.

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