| There are numerous genealogy sites out there | | | | along with maintaining them in a secure and good |
| that feature an assortment of articles on | | | | condition. |
| documentation of records for doing your | | | | Suggestions for making an audit trail |
| genealogy search. We will look at how genealogy | | | | When you make an assumption, clearly state why |
| sites and the tools they offer will assist you to | | | | you came to the conclusion and any other |
| carry on a search. | | | | information that could be useful. This can be the |
| Genealogy sites have plenty of tools that you use | | | | on the front page of your record and can be |
| to keep records of your searches, but keeping | | | | edited at anytime, remember that new |
| records is not enough. You must know where to | | | | information changes the search direction. |
| search next once you have found that piece of | | | | By learning any historical background of the time |
| information that you are looking for. Genealogists | | | | period and region, will allow you to have a better |
| usually draw conclusions from their records, to | | | | of idea of what direction may be the next |
| continue to dig deeper into the roots of their | | | | direction to head in. Most genealogy sites offer |
| ancestry, which is often referred to as and audit | | | | this information to you for this purpose. |
| trail. | | | | Learn as much information as you can about your |
| An 'audit trail' requires that the thought process | | | | ancestors, such as how they lived, their culture |
| and analysis be included by documenting sources. | | | | and any other relevant information that will help |
| Genealogy sites generally offer some software | | | | guide you in your search. |
| that is capable of analysing the data and there are | | | | Cite your sources, as this can lead you back to |
| services from expert genealogists. | | | | the information you need, or may add additional |
| The fees from experts vary from site to site, | | | | information for future searches that are |
| but they are not always needed unless you get | | | | completed. |
| stuck and cannot find the additional information | | | | Writing notes in detail will make it easier for |
| that you are looking for in your search or if you | | | | people who carry on your work in the future. This |
| cannot go any further on your own. | | | | will allow them to see your thought process. |
| There are many purposes for an audit trail but | | | | Make sure that you information is as accurate as |
| one of the main reasons is for subsequent | | | | possible, do not jump to conclusions. |
| searches to obtain the records that were used | | | | You can make the search nearly effortless, by |
| and see how the initial researcher came to their | | | | leaving and audit trail which allows you or others |
| conclusions. Keeping records is very important, | | | | to carry on the search easily. |