When to Hire a Professional Genealogist
Many people begin genealogy on their own—and that’s a wonderful way to start (that’s what I did!). But it’s also common to reach a point where progress slows or questions become more complex. Also, not everyone enjoys getting deep into the research but you might still want to know more.
Signs You Might Need Help
You may benefit from professional guidance if:
Records are difficult to locate
Information conflicts across sources
You’re unsure if your conclusions are accurate
You want help understanding historical context
What a Professional Genealogist Does
A genealogist can:
Navigate complex or obscure records
Interpret documents accurately
Break through research roadblocks
Provide clear documentation and citations
Research With Confidence
Professional support doesn’t replace your curiosity—it strengthens it. Whether you’re confirming family stories or exploring new questions, guidance can make the process clearer and more meaningful. Because I know there are folks who might just want a little help but still want to do the research themselves, I do offer research consulting meant to help you take your research further.
If you’re ready to explore my genealogy research services, working with a professional can help you move forward with confidence.
Using Census Records for Beginners: What They Reveal About Your Family
Census records are often the first major breakthrough for people starting their family history—and for good reason. They offer a snapshot of everyday life, placing your ancestors in a specific place at a specific moment in time.
What Census Records Can Tell You
Depending on the year, census records may reveal:
Names and ages of household members
Birthplaces
Occupations
Home ownership
Immigration status
Together, these details help build a timeline of your family’s movements and experiences.
How to Read a Census Record Carefully
Census records aren’t always perfectly accurate. Information was often provided verbally and recorded quickly.
When reviewing a census:
Expect spelling variations
Compare ages across multiple years
Look for consistent locations or neighbors
Patterns matter more than perfection. You can learn a great deal from the information that is repeated decade after decade about a family.
Following Families Over Time
One census rarely tells the full story. By comparing records across decades, you can:
Track migration
Identify children who left home
Spot remarriages or extended family members
This is where census research becomes especially rewarding.
Common Beginner Mistakes
We all make mistakes when we’re starting out, but if you don’t want to make some of the most common beginner mistakes, avoid:
Assuming spellings are fixed
Overlooking nearby households
Ignoring column headings
If there’s any advice I would give a new genealogist, it’s that taking time to read the entire page often reveals important clues. You can also find the original enumerator instructions online, if you really want to understand why certain things were recorded in a specific way.
When You Hit a Roadblock
If census records stop lining up—or you’re unsure whether you’ve found the right family—guidance from a professional genealogist can help ensure accuracy and prevent incorrect assumptions.
Census records don’t just document who your ancestors were—they show how they lived.
What Records You Need to Start Your Genealogy (And Which Ones Can Wait)
One of the most common questions I hear is: What records do I actually need to begin working on my genealogy? The answer is simpler than many expect. You don’t need every record—just the right ones at the right time.
If you’re starting your family history, this guide will help you focus your efforts and avoid overwhelm.
The Core Records to Begin With
Start with records that establish identity, relationships, and locations.
1. Vital Records
These include:
Birth certificates
Marriage records
Death certificates
They provide foundational information like names, dates, parent names, and places. Keep in mind that depending on when you are researching, these records may be missing, damaged, or never existed. For example, since in many parts of the United States birth registrations didn’t become required by law until the beginning of the 20th century. There may be alternate records you can use, such as religious baptismal records if there’s no birth certificate available. But especially when you are researching more recent family members, vital records can be incredibly important and informative.
2. Census Records
Census records are used by governments to understand their residents, including ages, ethnicities, family makeup, and more. The United States has conducted a federal census every 10 years since 1790, although the specific information you can find on each census can vary (and, sorry to say, the 1890 census was mostly destroyed). Census records place families in a specific time and location, often revealing:
Household members
Ages and birthplaces
Occupations
They are especially helpful for tracking families over time. Be warned that since those taking the census (census enumerators) were often handwriting the information as they went door to door that spelling of names and specific details regarding birthplaces, ages, etc. can be inaccurate. It’s still a good starting point, but it’s good to be aware of the flaws in these records.
Learn more about using census records for genealogy in our beginner guide.
3. Obituaries, Funeral Records, and Cemetery Records
Obituaries are typically the most useful, and often contain:
Extended family names
Places of origin
Community connections
They’re excellent sources for confirming relationships, and thanks to the rise in digitized newspapers available online, you may be able to find obituaries from your computer with a search on Newspapers.com or NewspaperArchive.
Records You Can Wait On (For Now)
Advanced records—such as land deeds, probate files, or immigration manifests—are valuable, but usually best explored after the basics are established. This is especially true when you are a beginner at genealogy.
Starting too deep too soon can lead to confusion or incorrect conclusions. Gain familiarity with using vital records, census records, and obituaries; reading older records and the handwriting on them; and accessing records in the areas you research. This will help you gain skills you need for more complex records. Additionally, as you get deeper into your research, consider attending webinars or classes online about these more advanced records, so that you can use them effectively. (I recommend ConferenceKeeper for finding upcoming classes!)
Organizing as You Go
Create a simple system:
Minimal folders but enough to keep yourself organized—I have a “maternal” and a “paternal” folder, personally
Clear file names with (at minimum) year, surnames, and what the file is
Example from my files: Rourke Michael_1830_Land Purchase_Maidstone Ontario Ca_FS
Notes about where each record came from including a link or name of the repository—in an ideal world, this would be a full citation for the record, following what’s outlined in Evidence Explained
Good organization saves time and protects accuracy. Plus, if you hope to one day share your family history research, you will need to be able to cite each source you reference.
When Records Feel Confusing
Old handwriting, unfamiliar terminology, and conflicting information are common challenges. This is often where working with a professional genealogist becomes especially helpful.
A strong foundation makes every future discovery more reliable and meaningful.
Creating One Research Question to Guide Your Family History
When people feel overwhelmed by genealogy, it’s often because they’re trying to answer too many questions at once. I have definitely been guilty of this, especially when I was first getting started with genealogy. I refer to this sometimes as going galaxy brained, when I’m trying to think of too many different things at once. It’s not an effective research strategy!
Genealogy works best with one focused research question—just one part of my starter guide to genealogy.
What Is a Research Question?
A genealogy research question is a clear, specific question you want to answer, such as:
Who were the parents of my maternal grandmother?
Where was my great-grandfather born?
When did my grandmother immigrate?
These questions give your research purpose and direction. Although sometimes we never find direct, infallible proof to answer our questions, we should at least be able to find enough to form a hypothesis in response to them. This allows us to feel we have researched the question from every angle, have our best guess at the answer, and now we can move on to the next question.
Why Focus Matters
Without a clear question, it’s easy to:
Browse records aimlessly
Repeat the same searches
Feel stuck or frustrated
A single question keeps your research manageable and intentional.
What Makes a Good Beginner Question
A strong research question is:
Specific
Focused on one person or event
Answerable with records
Avoid questions that are too broad, like “Where did my family come from?”—there isn’t one answer to that nor does it really direct your research. A better version of that question would be “where was my great grandmother [name] born?” It might not answer your entire broad question, but it’s one piece of the puzzle.
One Question at a Time
Once you’ve answered—or reasonably hypothesized an answer—one question, you can move on to the next.
This step-by-step approach is how genealogists build accurate family histories over time. It’s the building block of all solid, reliable genealogical research. If you are worried about doing genealogy right, this is one of the most important pieces.
If you’d like occasional guidance like this delivered to your inbox, you can join my email list.
Talking to Family Members About Their History
For many people, genealogy feels like it begins with records. In reality, it often begins with a conversation. I know when I was getting started, the first person I reached out to was my mom. Even though we had often talked about family stories so I knew she would have lots of details for me, I was surprised to learn she also had some documents about family history on both her side and my dad’s side. The information she provided was a big help when I was getting started.
Family members—especially older relatives—carry stories that never appear in official documents. These stories provide context, personality, and direction for your research, helping you understand not just who your ancestors were, but how they lived.
Why Family Conversations Matter
Family stories can reveal:
Nicknames or name changes
Migration stories
Family traditions and beliefs
Relationships that don’t show up in records
Family members who ended up with photos or documents
Even small details can become valuable clues later.
How to Start the Conversation
You don’t need to approach this like an interview. Some of the best conversations happen casually. Especially given that we are deep in the holiday season when many folks visit family, this is a great time to connect with relatives you don’t always speak to in depth.
Try open-ended questions like:
Where did our family come from?
What do you remember about your grandparents?
What’s your earliest memory?
Who were your aunts and uncles?
Are there any family stories that were often told when you were growing up?
Listen more than you speak, since silence often encourages deeper memories, but also remember to remain engaged with the speaker and ask thoughtful follow-up questions.
Be Mindful and Respectful
Not all family history is easy to talk about. Be sensitive to emotional boundaries, and remember that not everyone will want to share everything. Additionally, older generations can see some things as shameful that younger people don’t see the same way. It’s important to understand that topics that might seem harmless to you could be upsetting for those you’re speaking with.
If someone prefers not to talk, that’s okay. You can shift to a different topic or speak with someone else.
Preserve What You Learn
Write things down, record audio (with permission), or take notes afterward. Capture names, places, and approximate dates, even if they feel incomplete.
When Family Stories Raise Questions
Sometimes stories conflict or feel incomplete. That’s normal. These moments often point toward records that can clarify or confirm what you’ve learned.
If you’d like help turning stories into documented research, professional genealogy research can provide clarity while preserving what matters most.