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Welcome to Expert Genealogy Tips, a podcast created by Legacy Tree Genealogists, the world’s largest genealogy research firm. From understanding DNA to searching archives, you’ll learn the tips and strategies to begin or continue your own research. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, we’ll help you discover your family story and ancestors with accuracy and peace of mind.
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Newspapers hold a treasure trove of information on your family history! Not only can you find obituaries, but you can often find birth, marriage, and divorce notices; passenger lists; arrests and information on crimes; war heroes and casualties; tragedies and triumphs; historical context, and more. In this week's episode we discover the hidden trea…
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Do you have Scottish ancestors? We sat down to learn more about finding Scottish ancestors with one of our professional genealogists, Jamie Kay. In this episode, we share 5 keys to finding Scottish ancestors. Resources and Websites for Scottish Research: Scotland's People FamilySearch FindMyPast Ancestry If you have Scottish ancestors you need help…
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Finding biological parents is one of the most challenging, and rewards projects we get to work on at Legacy Tree Genealogists. In this week's episode, we hear from a Legacy Tree client as she shares her story about searching for her family in Puerto Rico. Listen in to see how her story took a few turns along to way but ended with her fully discover…
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As genealogists, finding ancestors is a daily practice in joy, gratitude, and patience. The month of September in the United States is National Hispanic Heritage Month and in this week's episode we share four pro-tips to help you find your Mexican ancestors and accurately fill in your family tree. If you are ready to learn more about finding your a…
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What untold immigration stories are waiting to be discovered in your family history? In today's episode we share the story of Japanese immigrant, Seito Saibara, and his impact on the Texas landscape. The history of America is an interlacing web of immigration stories from all over the world, many still untold. Every pioneer, either celebrated in li…
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We get asked this question often and the answer is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. In this week's podcast we explain what a coat of arms is, and share eight tips for your heraldic research for your coat of arms. For more information, see: England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand Court of the Lord Lyon (Scotland) …
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If you have ancestors who served in WWII, you might have found yourself at a loss due to a fire in the 1970's that destroyed 80% of records. But with creativity you may be able to discover more information than you thought possible. In this weeks episode we share a story that started with a photograph and ended with gathering enough information to …
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Have you ever found out something shocking about your family? Something that was kept secret for decades? In this weeks episode we share a story of murder and intrigue discovered in the history one of our own researchers family trees. And you won't believe the plot twist. Do you have your own family mysteries to discover and need some help? The exp…
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Have you ever needed a professional genealogist to help you with your family history research? Or do you wonder what it would be like to work with a professional? How do you choose a professional genealogist and what certifications and experience should they have? In this episode we discuss how to hire a genealogist as well as what to expect when w…
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Are you part of the large group of Americans who trace their ancestry across the pond? In this episode we help you understand the geography of the area and key records and sources to help search on your mission to discover your English ancestors. Resources: Free BMD FamilySearch MyHeritage FindMyPast Ancestry If you have English ancestors and need …
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Are you wondering how or if you qualify for Irish dual citizenship? Have you received your DNA test ethnicity results and verified you have a little or quite a bit of Irish ancestry? Or perhaps you are one generation removed from gaining Irish citizenship through descent—in other words, through one of your ancestors? While Legacy Tree Genealogists …
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ThruLines is an AncestryDNA technology that utilizes your DNA matches and the trees of those matches to identify your common ancestors. It will give you hints to help you connect to cousins and relatives in other trees through a common ancestor. In this episode we explore the best practices when using ThruLines and some things to be cautious about …
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Genealogy research in Poland can be challenging and rewarding when you know where to search for Polish records. In this episode we share online record portals that can help to speed up your Polish genealogy efforts. We also discuss the 100 year privacy rule and share a few tips on finding Polish ancestors prior to the 1600s. Resources: Search the A…
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Do you have family from the Netherlands? Have you ever been baffled by the surnames and tried to make sense of why some family members have different surnames? Or why there might be so many common surnames in a specific village or community? And how did Napolean impact the surnames for Dutch ancestors? In this weeks episode we cover all of this and…
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Immigration has once again become a hot topic in the United States lately, but this isn’t the first time. In fact, it has been a common part of the historical and political discourse since the founding of the nation, largely because immigrants make up such an enormous part of our history and heritage as Americans. In this episode we share four tips…
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Finding family in Germany can be challenging, as you need to first find the specific town or city where your family lived, and also usually the parish they attended. To help you with this goal, in this episode we share the three essential websites you can access from home to help with your German research. 1. Meyers or Meyer's Gazetteer of the Germ…
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When you are new to genealogy, knowing which family tree website to use can be a challenge. In this episode we share tips on choosing your platform and what to watch out for. We also share how to properly format your data for sharing and ease of use. Finally, we answer the question, "When should you hire a professional genealogist?" Want to learn m…
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As genealogists, we’re often asked to research the likelihood and details of a client’s Native American heritage. In this episode we share 5 tips for researching your Cherokee ancestry, and a few pitfalls to watch out for along the way. Resources for your research: The Dawes Roll: https://accessgenealogy.com/native/final-rolls.htm Indian Census Rol…
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Do you know how far back you can go in your family tree and still use Autosomal DNA to find matches? In this episode we explain what Autosomal DNA is, and then how to best use it to find matches in your family tree. Want to hire a professional genealogist to assist with your family history research? Contact Legacy Tree Genealogists by visiting http…
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How are we related? That’s a question that we have been asked quite a bit lately, and sometimes determining that exact familial connection with someone else can be confusing. What is the difference between a second cousin and a first cousin, once removed? What does the “removed” mean, anyway? If my mom has a cousin, how is he related to me? Is my g…
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If you’re confused with or made mistakes interpreting your DNA test results, you’re not alone! There are lots of things to learn when it comes to DNA and family history research. Today, we’ll review some of the most common misunderstandings people have about their DNA test results, and help you know how to avoid them! We'll also answer a DNA basic:…
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This week we answer the question, "How and where do I start my family history research if I have a lot of blank spots in my family tree?" Getting started is simpler than you think. In this week's episode we share the strategies to get started and find ancestors with accuracy, so your blank spots in you family tree can be filled with ancestors. Want…
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Are you searching for documentation for a deceased family member and having a hard time knowing where to look, or finding conflicting information? In this week's episode we answer the question: "My mom was married five or six times according to the Social Security Administration. Where do I start researching? How do I find documentation for her now…
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You've done your DNA testing and received the results. What now? How do you get started making sense of the results and the DNA matches. In this episode we will share a simple tip to get started on your road to success with DNA Matches in genealogy research. Want to learn more about DNA and genealogy research? You can also schedule a consultation o…
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