Webtember 2025 (free) starts Wednesday. Register here.

Webtember 2025 (free) starts Wednesday. Register here.

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Speakers

Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA

BCG Bonus webinars DNA Testing Google Historical Records Cemetery Records, Census Records, Court Records, Divorce Records, Immigration Records, Marriage Records, Military Records, Naturalization Records, Prison Records, Tax Records Methodology and Skills Board for Certification of Genealogists, Copyright, Evidence, Genealogical Proof Standard, Law, On-site Research Miscellaneous Photos and Digital Images Photographs, Photography Places and Ethnicities African American, Mexico Technology Books, Digital, Privacy Webinar Shorts Webtember

A genealogist with a law degree, Judy G. Russell is a lecturer, educator and writer who enjoys helping others understand a wide variety of genealogical issues, including the interplay between genealogy and the law. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and a law degree from Rutgers School of Law-Newark, and holds Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Lecturer credentials from the Board for Certification of Genealogists. She has worked as a newspaper reporter, trade association writer, legal investigator, defense attorney, federal prosecutor, law editor and, until her retirement, was an adjunct member of the faculty at Rutgers Law School. Judy is a Colorado native with roots deep in the American south on her mother’s side and entirely in Germany on her father’s side. Visit her website at www.legalgenealogist.com.

Judy's Upcoming Live Webinars (1)

DNA Testing
Informed Consent: DNA’s Essential Ethical Underpinning
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
Wed, November 5 2025: 19:00 UTC
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Informed Consent: DNA’s Essential Ethical Underpinning
Wed, November 5 2025: 19:00 UTC
Whether testing ourselves or others, or disclosing results, informed consent to DNA testing is essential, requiring knowledge and understanding of the risks and a voluntary acceptance. Learn more about this key ingredient for ethical DNA testing.
DNA Testing
Informed Consent: DNA’s Essential Ethical Underpinning
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
Whether testing ourselves or others, or disclosing results, informed consent to DNA testing is essential, requiring knowledge and understanding of the risks and a voluntary acceptance. Learn more about this key ingredient for ethical DNA testing.
Wed, November 5 2025: 19:00 UTC
Register for free

Judy's Webinars (42)

1:05:24
BCGMethodology and Skills
From Statutes to Stories: Finding the Law for Family History
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
844 views
From Statutes to Stories: Finding the Law for Family History
The laws our ancestors lived by can tell us much about life in earlier times. Finding those laws, and the stories they tell, can be a daunting task, but—from colonial statutes to today, from the halls of Congress to the statehouses of 50 states—the choices legislators made about what laws were needed give a rich and deep context to family history.
BCGMethodology and Skills
From Statutes to Stories: Finding the Law for Family History
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
844 views
The laws our ancestors lived by can tell us much about life in earlier times. Finding those laws, and the stories they tell, can be a daunting task, but—from colonial statutes to today, from the halls of Congress to the statehouses of 50 states—the choices legislators made about what laws were needed give a rich and deep context to family history.
Wed, August 20 2025: 0:00 UTC
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1:08:06
Methodology and Skills
Shootout at the Rhododendron Lodge: Reconstructing Life-Changing Events
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
958 views
CC
Shootout at the Rhododendron Lodge: Reconstructing Life-Changing Events
A 1929 shootout left the Bath County, Virginia, sheriff dead. Learn to follow the trail through all the records to reconstruct a life-changing event, and understand its unique challenges, both in terms of resources and in terms of ethics.
Methodology and Skills
Shootout at the Rhododendron Lodge: Reconstructing Life-Changing Events
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
958 views
A 1929 shootout left the Bath County, Virginia, sheriff dead. Learn to follow the trail through all the records to reconstruct a life-changing event, and understand its unique challenges, both in terms of resources and in terms of ethics.
Wed, February 26 2025: 19:00 UTC
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1:10:20
Methodology and SkillsPlaces and Ethnicities
Laws of the Indies: Spanish Colonial laws and the records they produced
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
324 views
CC
Laws of the Indies: Spanish Colonial laws and the records they produced
From town planning to native relations, “Las Leyes de Las Indias” (Laws of the Indies) governed Spanish colonies of North America and beyond, and created unique records for research for anyone with ancestral ties to Spanish America.
Methodology and SkillsPlaces and Ethnicities
Laws of the Indies: Spanish Colonial laws and the records they produced
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
324 views
From town planning to native relations, “Las Leyes de Las Indias” (Laws of the Indies) governed Spanish colonies of North America and beyond, and created unique records for research for anyone with ancestral ties to Spanish America.
Fri, November 15 2024: 19:00 UTC
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1:04:44
Methodology and Skills
Which Johann Christoph is Mine?
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
1.0K views
CC
Which Johann Christoph is Mine?
Researching in a native country is hard. Researching in Germany? Even harder. When every family in town shares a surname and all the sons are Johann Christoph or Gerhard, and all the daughters are Maria or Margarethe, how do we distinguish among them? What are the tools we can use to figure out which Johann Christoph is mine?
Methodology and Skills
Which Johann Christoph is Mine?
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
1.0K views
Researching in a native country is hard. Researching in Germany? Even harder. When every family in town shares a surname and all the sons are Johann Christoph or Gerhard, and all the daughters are Maria or Margarethe, how do we distinguish among them? What are the tools we can use to figure out which Johann Christoph is mine?
Wed, October 23 2024: 18:00 UTC
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51:12
Historical RecordsPhotos and Digital Images
Silent Storytellers: A Genealogist’s Guide to Cemetery Photography
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
2.6K views
CC
Silent Storytellers: A Genealogist’s Guide to Cemetery Photography
They stand there behind those gates: marble and granite memorials to those who went before. The stones in those cemeteries and the stories they tell for our families are of crucial importance to genealogists. How can we best get access to the land where they stand, and photograph them to capture the stories they tell?
Historical RecordsPhotos and Digital Images
Silent Storytellers: A Genealogist’s Guide to Cemetery Photography
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
2.6K views
They stand there behind those gates: marble and granite memorials to those who went before. The stones in those cemeteries and the stories they tell for our families are of crucial importance to genealogists. How can we best get access to the land where they stand, and photograph them to capture the stories they tell?
Thu, April 11 2024: 21:00 UTC
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1:10:09
Methodology and Skills
The Gentlemen Judges: Justices of the Peace
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
833 views
CC
The Gentlemen Judges: Justices of the Peace
Landowners but legal laymen, America's early justices of the peace served up ground-level justice and local governance, creating records unparalleled for genealogists.
Methodology and Skills
The Gentlemen Judges: Justices of the Peace
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
833 views
Landowners but legal laymen, America's early justices of the peace served up ground-level justice and local governance, creating records unparalleled for genealogists.
Wed, October 18 2023: 18:00 UTC
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3:44
Methodology and SkillsWebinar Shorts
Best tip for finding the law: CHEAT!
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
1.2K views
CC
Best tip for finding the law: CHEAT!
When it comes to finding the law... cheat. (Using resources like Cyndi's List!) This was part of the webinar, Celebrating 2,000 webinars! Plus 10 tips you can use today.
Methodology and SkillsWebinar Shorts
Best tip for finding the law: CHEAT!
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
1.2K views
When it comes to finding the law... cheat. (Using resources like Cyndi's List!) This was part of the webinar, Celebrating 2,000 webinars! Plus 10 tips you can use today.
Fri, July 14 2023: 0:00 UTC
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1:08:46
BCGMethodology and Skills
Name Changes and the Law
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
1.3K views
CC
Name Changes and the Law
Names weren't changed at Ellis Island, but in courts, legislatures and elsewhere both formally and officially -- and on the fly. As genealogists, we need to know why names were changed, and how those changes might be recorded, if we want to have a chance at finding out what's in a name.
BCGMethodology and Skills
Name Changes and the Law
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
1.3K views
Names weren't changed at Ellis Island, but in courts, legislatures and elsewhere both formally and officially -- and on the fly. As genealogists, we need to know why names were changed, and how those changes might be recorded, if we want to have a chance at finding out what's in a name.
Wed, May 17 2023: 0:00 UTC
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50:07
Methodology and Skills
When Enough is Enough
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
1.7K views
CC
When Enough is Enough
When weaving DNA and paper trail evidence together, how do we know when enough is enough? There’s often a thin line between a convincing case and one that falls just short of meeting genealogical standards. When we look at specific cases, what guides us in determining when we have enough DNA or enough documentary evidence or enough of both-and when more will be needed to meet the Genealogical Proof Standard?
Methodology and Skills
When Enough is Enough
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
1.7K views
When weaving DNA and paper trail evidence together, how do we know when enough is enough? There’s often a thin line between a convincing case and one that falls just short of meeting genealogical standards. When we look at specific cases, what guides us in determining when we have enough DNA or enough documentary evidence or enough of both-and when more will be needed to meet the Genealogical Proof Standard?
Fri, April 14 2023: 13:00 UTC
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59:07
TechnologyGoogleMethodology and SkillsWebtember
Using Google Books to Find the Law
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
983 views
CC
Using Google Books to Find the Law
Time and time again, we’re told to look at records in the context of the law at the time and in the place where the records were created. Easier said than done! With 50 states and the federal government all passing laws, how do we find the laws we need? One answer is Google Books—if we use it to full advantage.
TechnologyGoogleMethodology and SkillsWebtember
Using Google Books to Find the Law
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
983 views
Time and time again, we’re told to look at records in the context of the law at the time and in the place where the records were created. Easier said than done! With 50 states and the federal government all passing laws, how do we find the laws we need? One answer is Google Books—if we use it to full advantage.
Fri, September 16 2022: 15:30 UTC
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49:55
Historical Records
Doing Time – Prison Records as Genealogy Resources
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
1.1K views
Doing Time – Prison Records as Genealogy Resources
The brickwalls of a family tree are no match for prison walls. From intake photo to receipts for cash and clothes when they were released, prisoners in jails and prisons were recorded and documented, often in stunning detail. Learn what records may exist – and where – about your family’s black sheep.
Historical Records
Doing Time – Prison Records as Genealogy Resources
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
1.1K views
The brickwalls of a family tree are no match for prison walls. From intake photo to receipts for cash and clothes when they were released, prisoners in jails and prisons were recorded and documented, often in stunning detail. Learn what records may exist – and where – about your family’s black sheep.
Fri, April 8 2022: 17:00 UTC
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1:15:43
Historical RecordsWebtember
“Twelve Good and Lawful Men”: Jury Lists in Genealogy
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
2.5K views
CC
“Twelve Good and Lawful Men”: Jury Lists in Genealogy
One of the most common experiences of our ancestors with the courts was the requirement of jury service. Learn to understand who could and couldn't serve, how jurors were called, and how to use jury lists in family research.
Historical RecordsWebtember
“Twelve Good and Lawful Men”: Jury Lists in Genealogy
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
2.5K views
One of the most common experiences of our ancestors with the courts was the requirement of jury service. Learn to understand who could and couldn't serve, how jurors were called, and how to use jury lists in family research.
Fri, September 24 2021: 0:00 UTC
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1:14:42
Miscellaneous
That Scoundrel George
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
6.9K views
CC
That Scoundrel George
Tracking a rascally ancestor through the records can be great fun - and a great challenge. When every record he ever left appears to be a lie, where is the truth to be found?
Miscellaneous
That Scoundrel George
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
6.9K views
Tracking a rascally ancestor through the records can be great fun - and a great challenge. When every record he ever left appears to be a lie, where is the truth to be found?
Wed, July 21 2021: 0:00 UTC
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1:19:17
BCGMethodology and Skills
From the 18th to the 21st: The Records of Prohibition
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
3.9K views
CC
From the 18th to the 21st: The Records of Prohibition
The 18th amendment took effect in January 1920 and ushered in more than a decade of Prohibition until repealed by the 21st amendment in December 1933. In those few years, so many records were created of juice joints and bootleggers, revenuers and Untouchables -- producing a gold mine for researchers.
BCGMethodology and Skills
From the 18th to the 21st: The Records of Prohibition
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
3.9K views
The 18th amendment took effect in January 1920 and ushered in more than a decade of Prohibition until repealed by the 21st amendment in December 1933. In those few years, so many records were created of juice joints and bootleggers, revenuers and Untouchables -- producing a gold mine for researchers.
Tue, December 15 2020: 0:00 UTC
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1:19:15
Methodology and Skills
How Old Did He Have To Be…?
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
8.0K views
CC
How Old Did He Have To Be…?
Is this man John the father or John the son? Could that man be my ancestor who married in 1802? Knowing a person’s age is often the key to distinguishing between two people of the same name. But if no record gives a birthdate, how do you know how old…
Methodology and Skills
How Old Did He Have To Be…?
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
8.0K views
Is this man John the father or John the son? Could that man be my ancestor who married in 1802? Knowing a person’s age is often the key to distinguishing between two people of the same name. But if no record gives a birthdate, how do you know how old…
Fri, October 23 2020: 0:00 UTC
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1:00:06
BCG
From Generation to Generation: An Updated Look at Kinship Determination
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
8.2K views
CC
From Generation to Generation: An Updated Look at Kinship Determination
Proving relationships between generations is an essential skill for genealogists, and one that has to be demonstrated for certification in the Kinship Determination Project. Get an updated review of this three-generation narrative linking family members from generation to generation. Presented as part of the Joy Reisinger Memorial Lecture Series, and…
BCG
From Generation to Generation: An Updated Look at Kinship Determination
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
8.2K views
Proving relationships between generations is an essential skill for genealogists, and one that has to be demonstrated for certification in the Kinship Determination Project. Get an updated review of this three-generation narrative linking family members from generation to generation. Presented as part of the Joy Reisinger Memorial Lecture Series, and…
Thu, October 8 2020: 0:00 UTC
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1:18:09
Historical Records
More Than Just Names: Advanced US Census Research
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
19.6K views
CC
More Than Just Names: Advanced US Census Research
Those every-10-years U.S. censuses are goldmines of names, ages and birthplaces for members of our families. But there's so much more in the census records if we know where to look: everything from socioeconomic status to crops grown or products made, from school attendance to marriage dates, from physical disabilities…
Historical Records
More Than Just Names: Advanced US Census Research
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
19.6K views
Those every-10-years U.S. censuses are goldmines of names, ages and birthplaces for members of our families. But there's so much more in the census records if we know where to look: everything from socioeconomic status to crops grown or products made, from school attendance to marriage dates, from physical disabilities…
Fri, January 31 2020: 0:00 UTC
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1:18:50
Bonus webinarsTechnology
Privacy: How to Protect Your Information Online
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
13.1K views
CC
Privacy: How to Protect Your Information Online
Protecting privacy online is a continuing concern. Family historians need to decide what personal and family history information we'd like to keep private while still sharing with cousins and other researchers. Learn more about what controls online privacy and what methods and tools are available to give us the best...
Bonus webinarsTechnology
Privacy: How to Protect Your Information Online
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
13.1K views
Protecting privacy online is a continuing concern. Family historians need to decide what personal and family history information we'd like to keep private while still sharing with cousins and other researchers. Learn more about what controls online privacy and what methods and tools are available to give us the best...
Wed, October 23 2019: 0:00 UTC
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58:15
BCGMethodology and SkillsTechnology
Share and Share Alike: The Rules of Genealogical Privacy
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
5.2K views
CC
Share and Share Alike: The Rules of Genealogical Privacy
Genealogy by its very nature is collaborative-we need to work together and share information with others, both relatives and non-relatives if we're to succeed in filling out our family trees. But doing family research doesn't mean giving up all semblances of personal privacy, nor is it a license to invade…
BCGMethodology and SkillsTechnology
Share and Share Alike: The Rules of Genealogical Privacy
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
5.2K views
Genealogy by its very nature is collaborative-we need to work together and share information with others, both relatives and non-relatives if we're to succeed in filling out our family trees. But doing family research doesn't mean giving up all semblances of personal privacy, nor is it a license to invade…
Fri, September 6 2019: 0:00 UTC
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57:27
Places and EthnicitiesBonus webinars
Deemed a Runaway – The Black Laws of the North
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
1.5K views
CC
Deemed a Runaway – The Black Laws of the North
Learn how understanding this law and its records can be uniquely rewarding for descendants of slaves and slaveowners alike, and of those who were their neighbors and friends.
Places and EthnicitiesBonus webinars
Deemed a Runaway – The Black Laws of the North
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
1.5K views
Learn how understanding this law and its records can be uniquely rewarding for descendants of slaves and slaveowners alike, and of those who were their neighbors and friends.
Fri, June 7 2019: 0:00 UTC
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Advanced
1:21:36
Bonus webinarsDNA Testing
DNA Rights and Wrongs: The Ethical Side of Testing
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
11.7K views
CC
DNA Rights and Wrongs: The Ethical Side of Testing
Whose permission is needed to test a child or an adult unable to consent? Who owns our DNA? What can we disclose about a cousin who has tested? The rules of the road for the ethical challenges facing genealogists interested in using DNA evidence as part of their family history…
Bonus webinarsDNA Testing
DNA Rights and Wrongs: The Ethical Side of Testing
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
11.7K views
Whose permission is needed to test a child or an adult unable to consent? Who owns our DNA? What can we disclose about a cousin who has tested? The rules of the road for the ethical challenges facing genealogists interested in using DNA evidence as part of their family history…
Wed, January 2 2019: 0:00 UTC
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53:20
BCGMethodology and Skills
The Discriminating Genealogist: Telling Good Evidence from Bad
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
4.0K views
CC
The Discriminating Genealogist: Telling Good Evidence from Bad
The “best evidence” rule in law requires the presentation in court of an original rather than a copy, and a copy won’t even be admitted if the original is available. In genealogy, our rules require us to do the same: to discriminate, choose in favor of, prefer certain types of…
BCGMethodology and Skills
The Discriminating Genealogist: Telling Good Evidence from Bad
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
4.0K views
The “best evidence” rule in law requires the presentation in court of an original rather than a copy, and a copy won’t even be admitted if the original is available. In genealogy, our rules require us to do the same: to discriminate, choose in favor of, prefer certain types of…
Fri, October 19 2018: 0:00 UTC
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1:00:34
Bonus webinarsMethodology and Skills
Inventing America – Records of the U.S. Patent Office
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
644 views
CC
Inventing America – Records of the U.S. Patent Office
Americans have always been tinkerers and inventors. Records of the U.S. Patent Office can enrich any family's history. Where are they and what can they tell us?
Bonus webinarsMethodology and Skills
Inventing America – Records of the U.S. Patent Office
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
644 views
Americans have always been tinkerers and inventors. Records of the U.S. Patent Office can enrich any family's history. Where are they and what can they tell us?
Fri, September 14 2018: 0:00 UTC
Login to register (for webinar members)
Login to register (for webinar members)
Advanced
1:15:07
Historical Records
Lincoln's Laws and the Records of War
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
2.1K views
Lincoln's Laws and the Records of War
President Lincoln's General Order 100 - "Instructions for the Government of Armies ... in the Field" - revolutionized the laws of war and created new records for genealogists to research.
Historical Records
Lincoln's Laws and the Records of War
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
2.1K views
President Lincoln's General Order 100 - "Instructions for the Government of Armies ... in the Field" - revolutionized the laws of war and created new records for genealogists to research.
Wed, April 18 2018: 0:00 UTC
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1:23:35
BCGMethodology and Skills
The Law and the Reasonably Exhaustive (Re)Search
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
3.4K views
The Law and the Reasonably Exhaustive (Re)Search
There's a difference between searching and researching, and understanding how the law impacts records and research is critical to the reasonably exhaustive research needed to meet the Genealogical Proof Standard. Learn how the law impacts records -- and how finding the right law for the right place and time is...
BCGMethodology and Skills
The Law and the Reasonably Exhaustive (Re)Search
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
3.4K views
There's a difference between searching and researching, and understanding how the law impacts records and research is critical to the reasonably exhaustive research needed to meet the Genealogical Proof Standard. Learn how the law impacts records -- and how finding the right law for the right place and time is...
Tue, December 19 2017: 0:00 UTC
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1:32:25
Historical Records
A Taxing Matter: Using Tax Lists in Genealogy
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
4.1K views
A Taxing Matter: Using Tax Lists in Genealogy
Tax lists of all kinds, whether head taxes or taxes on real estate or personal property, are a rich source of data on families and individuals often recorded nowhere else.
Historical Records
A Taxing Matter: Using Tax Lists in Genealogy
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
4.1K views
Tax lists of all kinds, whether head taxes or taxes on real estate or personal property, are a rich source of data on families and individuals often recorded nowhere else.
Wed, August 9 2017: 0:00 UTC
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1:27:41
Methodology and SkillsPhotos and Digital Images
Picture This: Images You Can Freely Use
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
4.5K views
CC
Picture This: Images You Can Freely Use
There *are* images out there for use in your genealogical writing and speaking, free, and free from copyright. Learn to find and use them safely.
Methodology and SkillsPhotos and Digital Images
Picture This: Images You Can Freely Use
CC
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
4.5K views
There *are* images out there for use in your genealogical writing and speaking, free, and free from copyright. Learn to find and use them safely.
Wed, March 22 2017: 0:00 UTC
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1:19:42
BCGMethodology and Skills
No, no, Nanette! What negative evidence is . . . and isn't
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
6.2K views
No, no, Nanette! What negative evidence is . . . and isn't
Negative evidence is the hardest type of evidence to understand or use in genealogical research. By definition, a “type of evidence arising from an absence of a situation or information in extant records where that information might be expected,” it is, as the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes told us in…
BCGMethodology and Skills
No, no, Nanette! What negative evidence is . . . and isn't
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
6.2K views
Negative evidence is the hardest type of evidence to understand or use in genealogical research. By definition, a “type of evidence arising from an absence of a situation or information in extant records where that information might be expected,” it is, as the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes told us in…
Tue, December 20 2016: 0:00 UTC
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Advanced
1:00:05
BCGMethodology and Skills
When Worlds Collide: Resolving Conflicts in Genealogical Records
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
5.2K views
When Worlds Collide: Resolving Conflicts in Genealogical Records
When one record says she was born in Texas, and another says she was born in Mississippi, the evidence is conflicting. Now what? The Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) requires that we resolve conflicts among evidence items, since we can't reach a credible conclusion otherwise. Sounds good ... but it's easier…
BCGMethodology and Skills
When Worlds Collide: Resolving Conflicts in Genealogical Records
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
5.2K views
When one record says she was born in Texas, and another says she was born in Mississippi, the evidence is conflicting. Now what? The Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) requires that we resolve conflicts among evidence items, since we can't reach a credible conclusion otherwise. Sounds good ... but it's easier…
Fri, October 7 2016: 0:00 UTC
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1:31:06
Methodology and Skills
The Treasure Trove in Legislative Petitions
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
1.9K views
The Treasure Trove in Legislative Petitions
As colonists and as citizens of the new United States, Americans were fiercely protective of their right to petition their government. Whether the issue was forming new counties, building bridges and highways, or some matter of public concern, our ancestors made their voices heard in legislative petitions that are a…
Methodology and Skills
The Treasure Trove in Legislative Petitions
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
1.9K views
As colonists and as citizens of the new United States, Americans were fiercely protective of their right to petition their government. Whether the issue was forming new counties, building bridges and highways, or some matter of public concern, our ancestors made their voices heard in legislative petitions that are a…
Wed, September 14 2016: 0:00 UTC
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1:44:48
Methodology and Skills
The Private Laws of the Federal and State Governments
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
2.3K views
The Private Laws of the Federal and State Governments
Few researchers realize that many early federal and state laws were private laws -specifically for the benefit of individuals or families. The records can be fabulous for genealogists. Learn how to find these genealogical gems in federal and state collections.
Methodology and Skills
The Private Laws of the Federal and State Governments
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
2.3K views
Few researchers realize that many early federal and state laws were private laws -specifically for the benefit of individuals or families. The records can be fabulous for genealogists. Learn how to find these genealogical gems in federal and state collections.
Wed, March 16 2016: 0:00 UTC
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1:28:16
Bonus webinarsHistorical Records
Making a Federal Case Out of It (BONUS webinar for subscribers)
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
2.2K views
Making a Federal Case Out of It (BONUS webinar for subscribers)
Federal court cases cover a wide range of matters, from bankruptcy to piracy on the high seas. These courts and the records they created can often give genealogists many details to flesh out their family's stories.
Bonus webinarsHistorical Records
Making a Federal Case Out of It (BONUS webinar for subscribers)
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
2.2K views
Federal court cases cover a wide range of matters, from bankruptcy to piracy on the high seas. These courts and the records they created can often give genealogists many details to flesh out their family's stories.
Fri, July 10 2015: 0:00 UTC
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1:26:41
Historical Records
Martha Benschura – Enemy Alien
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
4.0K views
Martha Benschura – Enemy Alien
Not all our ancestors were naturalized. The ones who didn't become citizens suddenly became suspect when war divided their native countries from their new residences, creating the kinds of records genealogists love.
Historical Records
Martha Benschura – Enemy Alien
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
4.0K views
Not all our ancestors were naturalized. The ones who didn't become citizens suddenly became suspect when war divided their native countries from their new residences, creating the kinds of records genealogists love.
Wed, May 20 2015: 0:00 UTC
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1:41:59
Historical Records
D-I-V-O-R-C-E!
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
4.7K views
D-I-V-O-R-C-E!
Our ancestors' marriages lasted so much longer than our own. One reason: it was so hard to get a divorce. But it still happened, and the records created in the process tell us much about our ancestors, their lives and the laws they lived by.
Historical Records
D-I-V-O-R-C-E!
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
4.7K views
Our ancestors' marriages lasted so much longer than our own. One reason: it was so hard to get a divorce. But it still happened, and the records created in the process tell us much about our ancestors, their lives and the laws they lived by.
Wed, April 22 2015: 0:00 UTC
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1:37:15
BCGMethodology and Skills
Kinship Determination: From Generation to Generation
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
14.0K views
Free
Kinship Determination: From Generation to Generation
Requirement 7 of the BCG certification application asks for a Kinship Determination Project in which the applicant writes a three-generation narrative and explains how the relationships are documented. All genealogists do this regularly while placing relatives with their appropriate connections in the family tree.
BCGMethodology and Skills
Kinship Determination: From Generation to Generation
Free
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
14.0K views
Requirement 7 of the BCG certification application asks for a Kinship Determination Project in which the applicant writes a three-generation narrative and explains how the relationships are documented. All genealogists do this regularly while placing relatives with their appropriate connections in the family tree.
Wed, October 15 2014: 0:00 UTC
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1:27:38
Historical Records
The Fair Court: Records of Chancery Courts
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
3.7K views
The Fair Court: Records of Chancery Courts
Only one court has ever had doing what's fair as part of its official mission: the chancery court. With different names in different states (and countries), it was often the go-to court for cases of great genealogical value, including divorces, guardianships, real property partition and more.
Historical Records
The Fair Court: Records of Chancery Courts
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
3.7K views
Only one court has ever had doing what's fair as part of its official mission: the chancery court. With different names in different states (and countries), it was often the go-to court for cases of great genealogical value, including divorces, guardianships, real property partition and more.
Wed, October 1 2014: 0:00 UTC
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1:27:24
Methodology and Skills
Copyright Mythconceptions
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
6.0K views
Copyright Mythconceptions
What we don't know about copyright law can hurt us & right in the pocketbook! Here's a guide to the most common mistakes and misunderstandings about copyright and what we can and can't do with materials created by others in our family research.
Methodology and Skills
Copyright Mythconceptions
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
6.0K views
What we don't know about copyright law can hurt us & right in the pocketbook! Here's a guide to the most common mistakes and misunderstandings about copyright and what we can and can't do with materials created by others in our family research.
Fri, June 27 2014: 0:00 UTC
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1:29:28
Historical Records
The Ties That Bond
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
5.6K views
The Ties That Bond
From marriage bonds to officials' bonds, sureties given in a wide variety of circumstances can offer clues to our family members and their friends, associates and neighbors. Learn what they are, how to find them, and how to use them in building your family's FAN club.
Historical Records
The Ties That Bond
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
5.6K views
From marriage bonds to officials' bonds, sureties given in a wide variety of circumstances can offer clues to our family members and their friends, associates and neighbors. Learn what they are, how to find them, and how to use them in building your family's FAN club.
Wed, February 19 2014: 0:00 UTC
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1:32:47
Historical Records
Using Court Records to tell the Story of our Ancestors' Lives
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
4.7K views
Using Court Records to tell the Story of our Ancestors' Lives
Early court records give us evidence to prove who our ancestors were. But they're even more wonderful in helping us understand how our ancestors lived. Learn how to use court records to add richness and depth to help tell your family's story.
Historical Records
Using Court Records to tell the Story of our Ancestors' Lives
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
4.7K views
Early court records give us evidence to prove who our ancestors were. But they're even more wonderful in helping us understand how our ancestors lived. Learn how to use court records to add richness and depth to help tell your family's story.
Wed, October 30 2013: 0:00 UTC
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1:24:00
Methodology and Skills
How Knowing the Law Makes Us Better Genealogists
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
4.3K views
How Knowing the Law Makes Us Better Genealogists
To understand our ancestors' lives - why they did what they did, we need to understand the law that governed their lives in so many ways. Knowing the law our ancestors lived by helps us make sense of the records they left and find clues to more and different records.
Methodology and Skills
How Knowing the Law Makes Us Better Genealogists
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
4.3K views
To understand our ancestors' lives - why they did what they did, we need to understand the law that governed their lives in so many ways. Knowing the law our ancestors lived by helps us make sense of the records they left and find clues to more and different records.
Wed, June 26 2013: 0:00 UTC
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1:27:00
Historical RecordsMethodology and Skills
That First Trip to the Courthouse
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
7.3K views
That First Trip to the Courthouse
If there is one home truth in genealogy research, it's this: not everything is available online. Sooner or later, every genealogist has got to make that first trip to the courthouse to check out the original records available there. Learn how to prepare for that trip, the rules of the…
Historical RecordsMethodology and Skills
That First Trip to the Courthouse
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
7.3K views
If there is one home truth in genealogy research, it's this: not everything is available online. Sooner or later, every genealogist has got to make that first trip to the courthouse to check out the original records available there. Learn how to prepare for that trip, the rules of the…
Wed, April 10 2013: 0:00 UTC
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1:28:00
Methodology and Skills
Building a Family from Circumstantial Evidence
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FU...
5.2K views
Building a Family from Circumstantial Evidence
Most genealogists learn very quickly that it's a rare family where direct evidence supplies all the proof needed to connect one generation to another and tie brothers and sisters to each other. In most cases, it's necessary to build the case for family relationships from bits and pieces and hints…
Methodology and Skills
Building a Family from Circumstantial Evidence
Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
5.2K views
Most genealogists learn very quickly that it's a rare family where direct evidence supplies all the proof needed to connect one generation to another and tie brothers and sisters to each other. In most cases, it's necessary to build the case for family relationships from bits and pieces and hints…
Wed, August 29 2012: 0:00 UTC
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