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Genealogy Records
Find out what types of information genealogy records offer and how you can use those records to learn about your family's past.
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Ancestry.com and other popular websites now offer DNA test kits that use a DNA sample to find out what groups you have a connection too. Those sites can even use your sample to show you any living relatives who provided a sample. Some people worry about using those kits though because they don’t want to share a DNA sample. You have plenty of options when it comes to finding out about your genetics though through genealogy records. It’s important that you learn what types of records are best for your search and what you’ll find on the internet.
What are Genealogy Records?
Genealogy records include public records and other documents that you can access to learn more about your heritage. Whether you have family members who passed away or refuse to talk about their past experiences, you can still find out enough information to fill out your family tree and to learn more about them. These records are also great for those who want to create an online or virtual family tree and those who want to track lost relatives.
Types of Records
Before you start Googling for public records and trying to figure out which sites to use, you should really think about the types of records that you can view online. Some of those records include:
- Land and Property Records
- Birth and Death Certificates
- Military and Service Records
- Marriage and Divorce Certificates
Most of these records are available online through sites that charge a membership fee as well as free sites. Though membership sites do charge a monthly or annual fee, they make the search go much faster. You’ll also find some sites that let you see how they work and access some records for free before you need to pay a fee.
How to Use Genealogy Records
When it comes to using these records, you have a few different options. Let’s say that you recently had a home DNA test done and found relatives you never heard of before who live in a completely different state. With the genealogy records you find online, you can see whether your family has any connections to those people. You might learn that one of your grandparents had a sibling who moved there or you had a long lost relative who moved to the state and started a family there. These records are also great for filling out details on your family tree.
Other Options
There are other genealogy records you can view online, including tax and census records. In the United States, a census occurs every 10 years. The records available from each census shows the names and ages of the people who lived at a specific address and the jobs or occupations they held. Tax records let you verify the names and ages of certain people and also see what property they owned and their incomes at the time. Court and church records can help you too. Trying to track down genealogy records is often confusing and hard.
Benefits of Online Records
With the information we offer, you can more easily find all the genealogical records you need to create a complete family history. Why take time away from your work or family just to head to an office in another city in the hopes of finding some lost records that aren’t available on the web. Public records and similar sites offer all the information that you want and let you work from home. You can work at your own pace and find details that lead you to new information and more family members. We offer all the resources that you need to find the best genealogy records on the internet.
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Many or all of the companies featured provide compensation to us. These commissions are how we maintain our free service for consumers. Compensation, along with hours of in-depth research, determines where & how companies appear on our site.
Advertising Disclosure
Many or all of the companies featured provide compensation to us. These commissions are how we maintain our free service for consumers. Compensation, along with hours of in-depth research, determines where & how companies appear on our site.
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