| If you are planning on building a family tree online, here | | | | You may simply be repeating other people's mistakes. |
| are some very important issues to think about before | | | | And then someone will copy you, and someone will |
| you start. The Internet has allowed individuals to easily | | | | copy that person, and so on and so on. Do not make |
| find genealogy information and documents, history, and | | | | this mistake. If you find a very likely match, but with no |
| more. However, it has also allowed the spread of | | | | sources listed, contact the person who put it online, and |
| mis-information, mistakes, legal data on living people, | | | | ask them what particular sources they used to |
| and more. Before you start - or if you have already | | | | support the data for those individuals and families. No |
| started - make decisions about the following 4 tips: | | | | sources? They just copied someone else's tree? Sigh. |
| 1. Living PeopleRemember that living people may not | | | | Back to your searches. Use the information as a rough |
| wish to be found online, with their data easily available | | | | guide, only. |
| for anyone to see. 'Mother's maiden name' is such a | | | | 4. How To Share Your Family Tree |
| common identity question, that it should not be tossed | | | | Generally if you have an online family tree, you are |
| out on the Internet. In addition, you may have stories or | | | | able to share it with your relatives using an "invitation" |
| details that some members of your extended family | | | | which allows them access to view the tree. Make |
| are not aware of or do not wish to have public in any | | | | sure that you are the only person to have the power |
| way. Be respectful of your family members - make | | | | to change or edit the tree. You do not want others |
| certain that your online tree does not have children, | | | | 'correcting' the tree putting in what they think is true - |
| living family members, or juicy stories which might | | | | when you have actually found documents showing a |
| disconcert others. | | | | well-sourced detail! Of course, if another relative is |
| 2. Documents & DataAll details in your family tree | | | | excited about genealogy and would like to work with |
| need to have excellent quality sources to support the | | | | you, that is great - the two of you can figure out how |
| truth of the information. These could be certificates, | | | | and when to edit the tree as either of you find more |
| records, registrations, legal documents, photographs, | | | | information. |
| wills, and the like. When you put your family tree online, | | | | You can email a GEDCOM of your family tree at any |
| add details of the documents which support your data. | | | | time to a relative, as long as they have a family tree |
| You do not need to scan them online, but do record | | | | software program on their computer. There are |
| that you have a copy in your files, or record what it is | | | | several FREE versions available for download on the |
| that is your source. | | | | Internet. Any software program you use will have the |
| 3. Other People's Trees, Other People's | | | | capability to "import GEDCOM file" into it. Quite easy to |
| InformationUnless you can see that there is primary | | | | do. Use your Help button on the software toolbar, and |
| source material (that is, documents or records made | | | | it will walk you through the process. |
| at the time of an event), do not use other people's | | | | Enjoy your family tree discoveries! |
| family trees or information in your online family tree. | | | | |