Category: Maintenance

Maintenance, Sources and resources

AI Can Help You Use Family History Software

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Family history software is a powerful tool, but it can be confusing, especially when you are just starting out. There are a lot of features to learn. When something goes wrong, it is not always easy to figure out why, or how to fix it.

Most software includes a built-in Help system. Many programs also have online support pages, community forums, and printed manuals. These are useful resources, but finding the right answer can take time. You may need to read several articles before things make sense.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools offer a faster, more personal way to get help. Instead of sifting through pages of documentation, you can simply ask a question and get a direct, clear answer.

What Can AI Do for You?

AI tools can do far more than answer basic questions. Here is what they can help with:

  • Explain software features in plain language, tailored to your level of experience.
  • Provide step-by-step instructions for specific tasks.
  • Explain error messages: what caused the problem, how to fix it, and how to avoid it next time.
  • Suggest troubleshooting steps when something is not working as expected.
  • Combine information from multiple help articles into one clear answer.
  • Fill in the “why” behind instructions, not just the “how.”
  • Help you understand when and why to use specific features, reports, and tools.
  • Convert a PDF report exported from your software into a structured spreadsheet.

One of the biggest advantages of AI is that it is conversational. You can go back and forth, asking follow-up questions, sharing what you see on your screen, and refining your question until you get the answer you need.

What AI Cannot Do

It is important to understand the limits. AI tools cannot directly access your software or its built-in Help system. They work from publicly available information, which means they can draw on:

  • Help pages published on the software provider’s website.
  • Documents and manuals you upload directly to the AI tool.

This means your results will be better when you point the AI to the right resources, or provide them yourself. More on that below.

Also keep in mind that AI can make mistakes. Always review any instructions carefully before making changes to your data, especially when importing or editing records. And make sure that you back up your files regularly.

How to Ask AI for Help

Getting good results from AI comes down to asking good questions. Here are some tips:

  • Be specific. Name the software you are using and describe exactly what you are trying to do.
  • Describe what you see. Mention any error messages, unexpected behaviour, or screen details.
  • Provide the link to the relevant help page for your software. This gives the AI a reliable, accurate source to work from.
  • Upload files if needed. You can share a copy of your software manual, or a PDF report you want to work with.
  • Ask follow-up questions. If the answer is unclear, ask the AI to explain further or give an example.

Example Questions to Try

Below are examples written for Legacy Family Tree software. You can adapt these for whichever program you use. Notice that each question names the software and includes a link to the official help page.

How do I upload a GEDCOM file into Legacy Family Tree software, and does it need any fixing after doing so? Use the Help page on Legacy to answer the question and explain it for a beginner: https://legacyfamilytree.com/help/en/

How do I format place names in Legacy Family Tree software properly, and how do I fix existing ones that are not properly formatted? The help page on Legacy is: https://legacyfamilytree.com/help/en/

How do I delete events from Legacy Family Tree software without generating an error message saying it cannot have an empty line? The help page on Legacy is: https://legacyfamilytree.com/help/en/

These prompts follow a simple pattern: state the task, name the software, specify the audience if relevant, and provide the help page URL. This structure consistently produces better results.

ChatGPT’s response to my question about place name formatting incorporated Australian examples, as it knows that is a focus of my research from previous chats.

Using Your Software Manual with AI

Many software programs come with a downloadable manual. You can upload this directly to an AI tool and ask questions based on its contents. This approach works well because the AI has access to detailed, accurate documentation rather than relying on general web knowledge.

Most AI tools allow file uploads, though some have size limits. Check the tool’s settings or help page to confirm what file types and sizes are accepted.

Using NotebookLM for Ongoing Support

NotebookLM is a free AI tool from Google that is particularly well suited to this approach. You can create a dedicated notebook for your software, upload the manual once, and it will be there every time you return with a new question. You do not need to re-upload the file each session.

This makes NotebookLM a useful long-term resource, especially if you work with the same software regularly.

Converting Software Reports to Spreadsheets

Many family history programs let you export reports in CSV format, which can then be saved as an Excel file. However, I have found that this often results in formatting problems, with the text not placed neatly in appropriate columns. In the past, it used to take me some time to reformat the spreadsheet to my liking.

Now I just export the report as a PDF and ask AI to convert it into a properly structured spreadsheet. You do need to instruct the AI clearly about what you want in the spreadsheet, such as the columns. It also helps if you give it an example or an explanation of what goes into each column. This means creating a prompt and saving it somewhere for next time, so that you don’t have to go through the instruction process every time.

Here is an example prompt for how I convert a Potential Problems report from Legacy Family Tree software into an Excel spreadsheet, with an extra column that I can use to mark off as problems are resolved:

Convert the attached report to a spreadsheet format with five columns: ID, Name, Problem, Notes, and Resolved. In this report, each entry begins with a four-digit number followed by a name. Place the four-digit number in the ID column and the name in the Name column. The text in bold goes in the Problem column, and the remaining text of each entry goes in the Notes column. Leave the Resolved column blank. Start a new row for each four-digit number, with one row per problem.

You can adapt this prompt for other report types by describing the structure of your specific report.

Encourage AI to ask questions if your instructions are not clear enough. I used this response to revise my prompt for future requests to convert a PDF of the Potential Problems Report to a spreadsheet.
AI may even suggest improvements to your spreadsheet, if it understands what you want to use it for. Here is a suggestion I received from ChatGPT for the Potential Problems spreadsheet.

Which AI Tools to Use

Several AI tools are well suited to this kind of work. The most widely used options include ChatGPT (from OpenAI), Claude (from Anthropic), Gemini (from Google), and Copilot (from Microsoft). All of these can answer questions, interpret help articles, and process uploaded documents.

NotebookLM (also from Google) is particularly useful if you want to work with a specific document, such as a software manual, on an ongoing basis.

Most of these tools offer a free tier with sufficient capability for occasional use. Paid plans provide higher usage limits and access to more advanced features.

Try it out

Use AI to learn more of the features of your software and fix problems, to make your family history more accurate and more enjoyable. Try different tools with the same question and compare their answers, to see which one you prefer to work with.

About the Author

Danielle Lautrec is a genealogy educator, researcher, and author of The Good Genealogist. With qualifications in history, family history, and historical archaeology, she teaches for the Society of Australian Genealogists. Danielle convenes the Society’s Legacy Software Users Group and the Source Citations Group and is co-convenor of the Society’s DNA Research Groups.

For more articles on documenting your family history, go to the Document page.

Maintenance

How to Manage Multiple Family Trees to Benefit Your Research

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Many genealogists have family trees on sites such as Ancestry and MyHeritage, and also in family history software on their computer. While multiple family trees have powerful research advantages, they can quickly become a liability if poorly managed.

Inconsistent information between trees wastes research time and prevents you achieving your research objectives. Outdated data leads you down wrong paths. Missing documentation undermines your credibility. The solution isn’t fewer trees. It’s better family tree management.

This guide shows you how to maintain multiple genealogy trees effectively, keeping them accurate, consistent, and useful for your research.

Note: This post only deals with multiple trees about the same family. It does not cover situations where you may have different unrelated trees for clients or friends.

Why Genealogists Use Multiple Family Trees

Different platforms serve different research purposes:

Commercial genealogy websites like Ancestry and MyHeritage offer vast record collections. Having a family tree on these platforms helps you find new information and sources.

DNA testing company websites provide tools for analysing genetic matches. Your family tree is key to understanding how you connect with DNA matches.

Desktop genealogy software gives you comprehensive research tools, detailed reporting options, and control over your data format and privacy.

Collaborative family trees like FamilySearch and WikiTree connect you with other researchers working on the same families and can help you solve research problems.

Each platform has strengths. The challenge lies in managing family tree data across all of them to keep obtaining the benefits.

The benefits and alternatives are discussed in my blog post, Where’s the Best Place to Put Your Family Tree.

The Costs of Poor Family Tree Management

Inconsistencies between your family trees can create serious research problems.

You can waste hours or months investigating leads based on incorrect information. You may miss out on research leads because your online tree lacks recent updates. And the stories or presentations that you base on your family tree will be vague or incorrect.

Inaccurate family trees can also mislead other researchers, as they copy your mistakes and spread inaccurate genealogy information.

Core Principles of Managing Multiple Family Trees

Effective family tree management rests on four foundations:

  • Accuracy: Names, dates, places and relationships must be correct.
  • Documentation: Include quality source citations and supporting evidence in research notes.
  • Consistency: Information must match between your trees.
  • Security: Regular backups to protect your research from loss.

These principles guide decisions about maintaining your family trees.

Refer to my blog post Create an Accurate Family Tree by Fixing Errors for more on accuracy.

Step 1: Designate Your Master Family Tree

Choose one family tree as your master family tree. This becomes the most complete, most accurate version of your research.

I recommend using family history software for your master tree. Programs like Legacy Family Tree, Family Tree Maker or RootsMagic offer extensive organisation tools, great source management and complete data control.

Your master tree should contain:

  • Every person you’ve researched
  • Full source citations for all information
  • Digital copies of important documents and photographs
  • Research notes and conclusions.

All other trees become working trees. These are extracts or subsets of your master tree designed for specific research purposes.

Step 2: Establish a Master Tree Maintenance Routine

Your master tree requires regular attention, even when you are not actively researching.

Immediate updates: When you discover new information on any platform, update your master tree straight away. This prevents the accumulation of inconsistencies.

For example, if you find someone in a census record on Ancestry:

  1. add it to your Ancestry tree
  2. copy the information to your master family tree on your computer
  3. download a copy of the census to your computer
  4. attach that file to the person in your master family tree.

Research focused updates: When you sit down to work on a specific family or research problem, it’s a good idea to check and correct anything related to that family or research problem in your master tree and the relevant working tree before you do more research.

Weekly maintenance: Spend about 30 minutes each week reviewing and improving your master family tree. Check for obvious errors, add missing source citations, enhance documentation for one family line, remove or merge duplicate profiles.

Monthly deep cleaning: Choose one surname or family group for thorough review. Verify all dates and places. Ensure every piece of information has proper documentation. Look for gaps in your research.

This systematic approach maintains data quality and prevents overwhelming cleanup tasks.

flow diagram illustrating the process of updating your master family tree and working trees, to keep them consistent

Step 3: Synchronise Your Working Trees

Create Update Schedules

Establish regular intervals for synchronising your working trees with your master tree. The frequency depends on your research activity:

  • Daily researchers: Weekly updates
  • Weekend genealogists: Monthly updates
  • Casual researchers: Quarterly updates

Document your last update date for each tree to maintain accountability.

Focus Updates by Platform

Rather than trying to update everything simultaneously, rotate focus between platforms:

  • Month 1: Update your Ancestry tree with new master tree information
  • Month 2: Review and update DNA testing company trees
  • Month 3: Update your WikiTree profiles

This approach makes updates manageable while ensuring nothing gets neglected long-term.

Software-Specific Syncing

Some genealogy programs offer automated syncing features:

Family Tree Maker allows you to synchronise family trees in your desktop software and on Ancestry, and can save significant time.

Legacy Family Tree offers FamilySearch synchronisation, but it works differently as it is a collaborative tree. Synchronising is best done one profile at a time with selective amendments to ensure accuracy.

Step 4: Implement Cross Referencing Between Family Trees

Cross-referencing helps you navigate between trees quickly and maintain consistency between individual profiles.

In Your Master Tree

 Add custom facts or notes containing platform identifiers:

  • FamilySearch person IDs
  • WikiTree person IDs
  • Stable URLs to person profiles in an Ancestry or MyHeritage family tree.

More information: How to Use FamilySearch Person IDs and WikiTree ID

In Your Working Trees

Add private notes containing your master tree person numbers. This creates bidirectional linking between all your trees.

Example: Legacy Family Tree software assigns a unique RIN to each person (Record Identification Numbers). Learn how to find them in this article from Legacy.

Create a Management Plan

Managing multiple family trees requires you to remember which platforms you have a tree and when they were last updated. Consider a spreadsheet or Notion project plan to list your trees and track your maintenance.

Step 5: Implement a Back Up Plan

Your master tree deserves the most protection:

  • Configure automatic backups within your genealogy software
  • Create weekly manual backups to external storage
  • Store monthly backups in cloud storage or off-site locations.

Working Tree Backups

Working tree backups should be unnecessary, if you keep your master plan backed up. However, you can download GEDCOM files from online trees for added security. While GEDCOMs don’t include media files, they preserve your basic family structure and can be used to recreate trees if needed.

Note: Collaborative trees like FamilySearch and WikiTree don’t offer GEDCOM downloads.

Step 6: Using GEDCOM Files Strategically

A GEDCOM file is a great way to create a new research tree, but it is not a good tool for updating existing ones.

Be careful to privatise information on living people or sensitive information before uploading a GEDCOM file to create an online family tree.

Common Family Tree Management Mistakes to Avoid

Neglecting the master tree: Working trees receive attention while the master tree stagnates, undermining the entire system.

Inconsistent update schedules: Sporadic updates lead to confusion about which information is current.

Skipping backups: Hardware failures and platform changes can destroy years of work.

Creating Your Family Tree Management Action Plan

Start implementing better tree management:

This week: Choose your master tree and document your current working trees

This month: Establish your update schedule and start adding cross-references between trees

Ongoing: Follow your maintenance routines and backup procedures.

Consistency matters more than perfection. A simple system has greater chance of being implemented.

Multiple family trees boost your research power when managed properly. Start with your master tree designation and improve your system gradually.

About the Author

Danielle Lautrec is a genealogy educator, researcher, and author of The Good Genealogist. With qualifications in history, family history, and historical archaeology, she teaches for the Society of Australian Genealogists.

Maintenance, Methodology

Create an accurate family tree by fixing errors

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You can create a more accurate family tree if you dedicate time to identifying and fixing errors. This article will help you understand how family history errors occur and help you implement practices to minimise and fix them.

What are family history errors and how do they occur?

An error is an action or information which is inaccurate or incorrect.

There are three main types of family history errors:

  • errors that exist in sources and are mistakenly copied into a family tree
  • data entry errors that occur as information is entered into a family tree
  • errors resulting from mistakes made during the analysis of information, such as assumptions or misinterpretations.

Note: The term ‘sources’ means anything you obtain information from, including other people’s family trees.

Errors in sources

Errors in sources are usually the result of:

  • mistakes made by the creator of the source
  • errors in a source used by the creator of the source, or
  • incorrect information provided by an informant.

It is important to remember that all sources can have errors. However, here are some general rules about the likelihood of errors in a source:

  • Original sources may have fewer errors than derivative sources. Derivative sources are created using information from other sources and that increases the chances of errors occurring. However, as mentioned above, even original sources can have errors.
  • Contemporary sources may have fewer errors than sources created after the event. This is because sources created closer to an event are more likely to have access to reliable information about that event.
  • Official sources may have fewer errors than non-official sources, because they are often created in accordance with legislation or regulations.
Typed transcripts and indexes are derivative sources

Data entry errors

Common causes of data entry errors include:

  • a lack of familiarity with the program used to enter data, such as a family history software program or online family tree service
  • overlooking or ignoring details
  • imprecise copying of details.

Analytical errors

Analytical errors typically occur when:

  • no analysis is conducted
  • very little analysis is conducted, or
  • analysis is conducted but mistakes are made.

Common analytical errors include:

  • assuming that information in a source is accurate
  • assuming that a person with the same or similar name is the right person
  • failing to gather sufficient evidence from the best sources
  • accepting a search result without corroborating evidence
  • failing to consider alternatives
  • accepting information which was offered as a hint without first analysing whether it is correct information. As an example, read the article on Ancestry about the steps you should take to analyse green leaf hints.

Analytical errors can also occur due to misunderstanding, resulting from insufficient knowledge. For example:

  • misreading the text of a source, particularly with handwritten sources or poor-quality copies
  • difficulties with the language or the meaning of words
  • lack of familiarity with the format of information, the type of source, locations or place names.
handwritten letter with the writing written both horizontally and vertically
Crosshatch handwriting can be difficult to read

For more information about these types of mistakes, read my article about Mistakes and Misinterpretation.  

Examples of family history errors

Here are some specific examples of errors to watch out for if you want an accurate family tree.

Incorrect or incomplete information, such as:

  • typographical errors or spelling mistakes
  • errors in the name or other details, such as birth or death information
  • names transposed, or names recorded in the wrong place on a form
  • information entered in the wrong place information that is entered in an inconsistent or incomplete manner, such as a date without a year, or inconsistent spelling of a place name
  • accidental or deliberate omissions, such as the removal of the names of children
An error in a transcription of a birth certificate, where the child’s surname has been omitted and his name has been recorded in the place that the father’s name should occur.

Other common errors include:

  • inclusion of the wrong person
  • creation of incorrect or inaccurate relationships between people
  • duplicate entries or people linked to each other more than once
  • a conclusion that is contrary to the available evidence.

Errors can also occur as a result of deficiencies in the research process, such as:

  • missing or poorly constructed source citations
  • including information in a family tree without citing sufficient reliable sources. The information itself may be accurate, but that accuracy cannot be demonstrated or tested without citing sources.
  • attaching a source citation to information which was not obtained from that source. For example, I often see sources cited for the date and location of birth, but the sources only mention the year. In such circumstances, additional sources should be provided for the location.

Avoid family history errors

Improve the accuracy of your family tree and minimise the risk of errors occurring by:

  • taking a systematic approach to research and developing your research skills
  • conducting a reasonably exhaustive search to find the best sources
  • critically analysing information and gathering sufficient evidence to reach reasonable and defensible conclusions
  • learning about the types of sources and the way that information is formatted in them (e.g. date formats)
  • studying the locations and places your family lived, and learning how the place names should be recorded
  • being meticulous in your data entry, verifying the information and proof reading your work.
Extract of a list of Maori place names . Guides to place names are useful tools for creating an accurate family tree
Consult guides to locations and place names

Identify errors in sources and your family tree

In addition to the strategies listed to avoid errors, to create an accurate family tree you should also:

  • be aware of common errors, and information patterns that may indicate errors (see checklist below)
  • gather more sources, as that will help to highlight inconsistencies
  • examine different versions of the same source
  • examine other sources about the same person
  • apply the FFANs technique
  • re-examine the sources you have already used and compare that information with the information in your family tree
  • compare your family tree to trees compiled by other researchers
  • analyse whether you have sufficient evidence to support your conclusions.
checklist of common family history errors to avoid so you can create an accurate family tree

See my article, Baptised Before Birth and Other Silly Claims.

Fix errors in your family tree

To create an accurate family tree, you need a systematic approach. This will make the task manageable and eliminate more errors.

  • Fix errors as you find them, or mark them to be fixed later.
  • Schedule regular maintenance and keep a record of where you are up to. Systematically work your way through your family tree, one generation at a time or one grandparent line at a time.
  • Conduct regular checks for missing source citations and poorly constructed source citations.
  • Use the tools provided by your family history software or online family tree service to check your tree for errors. For example, Legacy Family Tree software has a Potential Problems Report and Ancestry has Tree Checker feature in its Pro Tools.

A research plan can be a useful tool for reviewing your tree and listing remedial tasks.

Conclusion

Creating an accurate family tree requires implementation of good research practices. By understanding the types of errors that occur and being more systematic with your research, you can minimise errors and ensure your family history is as accurate as possible. Regularly reviewing and updating your tree will help maintain its accuracy.

For more tips on managing family trees, see my article: How to Manage Multiple Family Trees to Benefit Your Research.

More information

For more of my articles about analysing sources, go to the Analyse page.

For more of my articles about maintaining your family history, go to the Maintain page.

If you like this article, you will like my book, The Good Genealogist.

Featured image generated using AI apps in Canva, demonstrating the need to watch out for computer generated errors too!

Maintenance

Maintain Your Family History: Your Annual Spring Clean

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Spring brings fresh energy and new possibilities. It’s the perfect time to maintain your family history research with a thorough annual clean-up.

Just like spring cleaning your home, maintaining your family history requires regular attention. A good genealogy spring clean helps you rediscover forgotten research, eliminate clutter, and create positive momentum for your family history.

This post was originally published in September 2023 and last updated on 5 September 2025

Assess the Status of Your Family History

Start by evaluating the current state of your family history research. Think of this as taking inventory of your genealogy practice.

Ask yourself these questions:

  • What do you know about your family history so far?
  • How do you document it – family history software, online trees, computer files, paper records?
  • Do you regularly back up your family history files?
  • What systems help you organise files, name documents, store photos, and cite sources?
  • Which genealogy societies do you belong to?
  • What subscriptions are you currently paying for?
  • Have you attended any genealogy classes recently?
  • When did you last visit libraries or archives?
  • What genealogy books and magazines do you own?

Use these tools to maintain your family history effectively:

  • Review your family trees carefully. Print charts and reports from your family history software. Fan charts work particularly well because they highlight gaps in your research.
  • Complete a Tree Health Assessment on your family tree, using both chart and table formats.
  • Write a scoping paper that summarises your research and identifies main gaps and questions.

You can learn more about the Tree Health Assessment Tool in my book, The Good Genealogist. Download the PDF guide from the Free Stuff page of this website

Set Clear Goals to Guide Your Family History Research

You cannot maintain your family history effectively or make real progress without clear goals and objectives.

Define your long-term goals and mid-term objectives. What specific areas will you focus on this year?

Read detailed guidance on goal setting in The Good Genealogist, pages 16-21.

These planning tools will help you maintain your family history momentum:

  • Develop a master research plan for the whole of your research
  • Create an index of your big research questions and research problems
  • Prioritise them!

Implement Positive Changes to Maintain Your Family History

Making positive changes is the most valuable part of family history spring cleaning.

Your spring clean will likely reveal many areas for improvement. Don’t feel overwhelmed. List everything and prioritise the changes. Work through them gradually but start implementing at least one change immediately.

Consider these improvements to maintain your family history better:

  • Begin using family history software or create online family trees
  • Establish a new, more efficient filing system
  • Set up automatic backup systems for your genealogy files
  • Design and implement a consistent file naming system
Four examples of actions that can be taken to make changes to how you conduct family history research.
First four of my recommended top 12 actions for a retrofit, from my book, The Good Genealogist.

Make Your Family History Spring Clean Count

Maintaining your family history requires regular attention, just like any important project. Your annual spring clean creates the foundation for a year of productive genealogy research.

Start with an honest assessment of your current situation. Set realistic goals for the coming year. Then implement the changes that will make the biggest difference to your research efficiency.

Remember, the goal isn’t perfection – it’s progress. Every small improvement in how you maintain your family history will pay dividends throughout the year.

For more articles about maintaining your family history research, go to the Maintain Your Family History page.

For more of my articles about planning your family history, go to the Plan Your Family History page.

About the Author

Danielle Lautrec is a genealogy educator, researcher, and author of The Good Genealogist. With qualifications in history, family history, and historical archaeology, she teaches for the Society of Australian Genealogists.

Maintenance, Sources and resources

Fix missing or inadequate family history source citations

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Have you ever looked at your family tree and thought, “Where did that information come from?”

Or looked at a name, date or place in your family tree and wondered whether the information is correct?

Family history source citations are crucial in developing an accurate family history. And yet, missing or incomplete family history source citations are one of the most common problems we all face.

Those missing or incomplete source citations matter. Here’s why—and how you can start fixing them.

Why genealogy source citations matter

The main danger of failing to cite your sources is that you won’t be able to verify the accuracy of the data you entered. It may be supported by credible evidence, or it may have been a guess, an assumption, or a copy from an uncited tree.

Without good source citations:

  • You can’t tell how reliable the information is
  • You won’t know how to find the sources again
  • You won’t know how accurate your family history is.

Fixing missing citations isn’t just about good habits—it’s about improving the quality of your family history.

How to fix missing family history source citations

You don’t need to fix everything at once. Start with a manageable plan and a systematic approach. Here’s one way to approach it:

1. Choose your focus

It’s a good idea to improve source citations as you work, but you should also implement a systematic review. I suggest working along one grandparent line at a time. That makes it easier to keep track of where you are up to.

2. Review what you’ve got

Look at the information listed for each person and check:

Which information has:

  • no sources cited, or
  • just one source citation.

For information that does have citations:

  • Do they contain all the necessary information to help you find the source again? For example, a citation like “birth certificate” or “ancestry.com” does not contain all the necessary elements – see my Six Question Model, below.
  • Are they in the correct format?
  • Does the source actually contain the information that the citation is attached to?

If the answer is no, mark it for action. Make use of the tagging functions in your family tree software or online tree programs.

If you’re using Legacy Family Tree software, the program makes it easy to find people who are missing source citations.

  • Open the Search tab.
  • Click on the Missing Sources tab.
  • Use the checkboxes to define your search – for example, you can search for individuals who have no sources at all, or you can search for those who are missing sources for their birth, death and marriage information.
  • Click on the Create List button.
  • You can save a copy of your search list by clicking on the Options button, then Print, and save as CSV file or a PDF file. I prefer the CSV format because you can open it in Excel and mark off the individuals as you fix the citations.

From here, you can begin reviewing these individuals and fixing the source citations.

3. Add or revise your source citations

If you have a copy of the source:

  • examine the source
  • generate a source citation and
  • attach it to the information.

If you do not have a copy, you will need to research the information again.

Don’t forget to update your tags, so that you know the problem has been fixed.

Once you’ve reviewed and begun correcting your citations, a few tools and strategies can make the process smoother and more sustainable over time.

Tips to make fixing genealogy citations easier

Use examples: Create a sample set of citations for sources that you use frequently, or keep a citation guide handy, such as Noeline Kyle’s book, Citing Historical Sources [1]. You can also use a citation generator, such as Cite-Builder.

Use software tools: Family tree programs let you search for people who are missing source citations. Use these tools to create a list or checklist. Ancestry Pro Tools, for example, has the Tree Checker.

Break it into manageable chunks: You might aim to review one ancestor per week or fix citations for a single surname line over a month.

Measure and celebrate your progress: Watching that long list getting shorter and shorter is a great motivator. Every citation you fix improves the quality of your family history.

Use the Six Question Model: To create a clear, useful source citation, use the Six Question Model from my book, The Good Genealogist.

The Six-Question Model list of question prompts to create family history source citations.
The Six Question Model for family history source citations from my book, The Good Genealogist (D. Lautrec, 2022)

Improve the quality of your family history with better source citations

It may seem overwhelming – fixing all those missing or incomplete family history source citations. But every time you fix one you improve the quality of your family history.

Taking time to fix source citations is a chance to correct errors, strengthen your evidence, and feel more confident about the accuracy of your family tree.

It also helps other researchers and family members, by sharing reliable and useful information.

More genealogy citation tips and resources

Learn more about writing good family history source citations from my other articles, listed on the Document Your Family History page. Or, come along to one of my lectures or courses at the Society of Australian Genealogists.

Learn more about maintaining your family history, with articles listed the Maintain Your Family History page.

[1] Kyle, Noeline, Citing historical sources: a manual for family historians, St Agnes, SA : Unlock the Past, 2013

Post last updated 17 May 2025