Genealogy Tip of the Day

Never assume that a relative would not have had a probate file. A relative of mine had an estate opened for them after their death in the 19...

A marriage license does not mean a couple actually got married. It means they requested permission to get married. A marriage record indicat...

Your immigrant ancestor might not have even bothered to become an American citizen--particularly before the naturalization reform of 1906. V...

Regardless of the person, the location, or the record, look at the surrounding entries in any record book. If you've found one deed, per...

If you research every day, take a day or two off. You might come back refreshed and with  new insight.

We just uploaded our recorded and updated webinar on "Using Archive.org." Archive.org contains free scans of thousands of books, t...

This act of the US Congress allow Union army veterans to become naturalized citizens after living in the United States for only 1 year. This...

Looking for alternate renderings of your last name? Write it in a sloppy or fancy fashion and then ask two or three people to read your hand...

While it rarely happens, is it possible that you are wrong or that you are doing something incorrectly? I spent ten minutes "trying...

If your ancestor naturalized, did you look to see what other individuals naturalized on the same day? Don't stop at your relatives entry...

You might have thought the world of your Grandmother and she might have thought the world of you. That does not necessarily mean that she to...

Is there a second picture hiding in that picture frame? Sometimes photographs will be placed on top of the photo that was already in the fra...

Selling real property, getting married, being a witness, and other "legal" acts usually require the person to have arrived at a ce...

Even if unindexed  records appear to be in some "order," there is always the chance that one or more entries is "out of order...

If you are completely certain you have exhausted every source on an ancestor, go back and review your material. Is there any piece of inform...

If you have notes, research ideas, or other genealogical material on "scraps" of paper, convert it an easier to file and organize ...

When looking at original records, determine (as best you can) what the "order" is to how the names are listed. Are the entries mad...

This takes turning off the internet one step further. Simply peform some analysis with your computer off. You will need printed copies of so...

If you are stuck on a research problem, try working on it offline for at least an hour--maybe even more. Organizine and analyze what you alr...

In answer to rumors that have been submitted as comments on this blog. I am not associated in any way, shape, or form with the owner of MyGe...

We have just recorded new versions of two of our most popular webinars--full of practical, easy-to-follow, down-to-earth ad...

Do not indicate more precision for an event than is stated or clearly implied in the record. Doing so may at the very least be incorrect and...

Put all your ancestor's residences on the same map. Compare it to your chronology. Is there a chance they might have stopped somewhere ...

Is there a legal term or arcane word you have used in your research and you "know" what it means because you've always "k...

How long has it been since you looked at various websites for archives, libraries, and other repositories containing materials that could be...

I often blog about items I've discovered in GenealogyBank --sponsor of Genealogical Tip of the Day . There is a wealth of genealogical...

If an older relative "disappears," consider the possibility that they might have been institutionalized.If the person got to where...

In the best interest of giving credit where credit is due and to reduce the chance you plagiarize someone else's work, cite whatever you...

Are there "empty" spaces in your family's lot of graves in the cemetery? Is it possible that there are unmarked burials. The c...

If your male ancestor died, is it possible that the mother married again and that her children with the first husband are listed in subseque...

When you cannot find a record in the expected location, ask yourself if you are really certain the event took place in that spot. Do you hav...

For those who are new... I currently write and maintain the following blogs: Genealogy Tip of the Day   http://genealogytipoftheday.b...

Genealogy Tip of the Day  is sponsored by GenealogyBank. GenealogyBank offers a variety of digital images and databases by subscription, in...

A surety is one serves as a guarantor on bond or other obligation such as a debt. If the person signing the bond performs their obligation, ...

A dower is that part of a husband's property that the law assigns to his wife. On land records, the wife may relinquish her dower rights...