12
of
2,434 Webinars Clear filters
Sort by
Sort by
1:10:20
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.
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
1:10:09
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.
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
3:44
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.
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
1:08:46
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.
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
59:07
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.
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
1:19:15
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…
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
1:05:48
1.5K views
CC
Family Secrets: The Court Records Tell It All
No matter what time period your ancestors lived in, they surely had a few secrets. Explore various court records that reveal family relationships and issues. Find answers to long-standing family mysteries!
No matter what time period your ancestors lived in, they surely had a few secrets. Explore various court records that reveal family relationships and issues. Find answers to long-standing family mysteries!
Fri, November 30 2018: 0:00 UTC
1:00:34
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?
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
1:23:35
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…
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
1:31:06
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…
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
1:44:48
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.
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
Advanced
1:24:00
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.
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

Upcoming Live Webinars

View all (89)
Wed, July 16 2025: 0:00 UTC
Civil War Records: What is a Reasonably Exhaustive Search?
Wed, July 16 2025: 0:00 UTC
To correlate evidence, you must have evidence to correlate. Typical researchers stop too soon in their evidence collection, believing they have found all there is to find about a soldier. There is more to military research than the compiled military service record or the pension application file. A reasonably exhaustive search is not limited to the two or three typical record sources.
To correlate evidence, you must have evidence to correlate. Typical researchers stop too soon in their evidence collection, believing they have found all there is to find about a soldier. There is more to military research than the compiled military service record or the pension application file. A reasonably exhaustive search is not limited to the two or three typical record sources.
Wed, July 16 2025: 0:00 UTC
Wed, August 6 2025: 0:00 UTC
Applying for BCG Certification: A Step-by-Step Review of the 2025 Application Guide
Wed, August 6 2025: 0:00 UTC
Thinking about becoming a Certified Genealogist? This presentation walks through the 2025 BCG Application Guide, focusing on the required portfolio elements, the rubrics used for evaluation, and common questions from applicants. Attendees will gain a realistic understanding of the process, timeline, and expectations involved in submitting an initial portfolio for BCG certification.
Thinking about becoming a Certified Genealogist? This presentation walks through the 2025 BCG Application Guide, focusing on the required portfolio elements, the rubrics used for evaluation, and common questions from applicants. Attendees will gain a realistic understanding of the process, timeline, and expectations involved in submitting an initial portfolio for BCG certification.
Wed, August 6 2025: 0:00 UTC
Wed, August 20 2025: 0:00 UTC
From Statutes to Stories: Finding the Law for Family History
Wed, August 20 2025: 0:00 UTC
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.
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
Wed, August 20 2025: 18:00 UTC
Was Eleanor of Aquitaine My Ancestor? Applying the GPS across 30 Generations
Wed, August 20 2025: 18:00 UTC
When Yvette found a line to Eleanor of Aquitaine (1124-1204), Queen of France and England, in online trees, she quickly realized the existing research did not meet standards. She set about verifying the line one generation at a time, to meet the Genealogical Proof Standard. In this presentation, she will take you on her journey, sharing the skills, methods, and documents she used to verify her royal line back to the 1100s.
When Yvette found a line to Eleanor of Aquitaine (1124-1204), Queen of France and England, in online trees, she quickly realized the existing research did not meet standards. She set about verifying the line one generation at a time, to meet the Genealogical Proof Standard. In this presentation, she will take you on her journey, sharing the skills, methods, and documents she used to verify her royal line back to the 1100s.
Wed, August 20 2025: 18:00 UTC
Wed, September 17 2025: 0:00 UTC
Finding Frank Henry Hill
Wed, September 17 2025: 0:00 UTC
In 1906, Nellie Langevin married Frank Henry Hill in Penacook, New Hampshire. Frank vanished three years later, leaving Nellie to fend for herself. Despite her efforts to divorce him, Nellie died in 1914, still officially married. Who was Nellie’s elusive husband and what happened to him? This case study resolves conflicting direct, indirect, and negative evidence to uncover Frank’s identity and highlights the importance of including the FAN Club in reasonably exhaustive research.
In 1906, Nellie Langevin married Frank Henry Hill in Penacook, New Hampshire. Frank vanished three years later, leaving Nellie to fend for herself. Despite her efforts to divorce him, Nellie died in 1914, still officially married. Who was Nellie’s elusive husband and what happened to him? This case study resolves conflicting direct, indirect, and negative evidence to uncover Frank’s identity and highlights the importance of including the FAN Club in reasonably exhaustive research.
Wed, September 17 2025: 0:00 UTC
Fri, October 17 2025: 15:30 UTC
Resolving Conflict: A Key to Sound Genealogical Conclusions (a 2025 Reisinger Lecture)
Fri, October 17 2025: 15:30 UTC
What happens when all evidence cannot possibly be correct? The process of assembling evidence may reveal inconsistencies and the Genealogical Proof Standard emphasizes that resolving conflict is essential for credible conclusions. Through case examples, this lecture will help genealogists recognize conflicts and provide strategies to resolve them in order to build family stories that are authentic and accurate.
What happens when all evidence cannot possibly be correct? The process of assembling evidence may reveal inconsistencies and the Genealogical Proof Standard emphasizes that resolving conflict is essential for credible conclusions. Through case examples, this lecture will help genealogists recognize conflicts and provide strategies to resolve them in order to build family stories that are authentic and accurate.
Fri, October 17 2025: 15:30 UTC
Fri, October 17 2025: 16:45 UTC
Cluster Research Using the FAN Principle (2025 Reisinger Lecture)
Fri, October 17 2025: 16:45 UTC
When records are scarce—or names are all too common—cluster research can be the key to unlocking your genealogical puzzles. By examining the people who surrounded your ancestor—the friends, associates, and neighbors—you can separate individuals with the same name, untangle multiple families in one place, and uncover biographical details you might otherwise miss. Join us to explore practical strategies and real-world examples that show how powerful the FAN principle can be.
When records are scarce—or names are all too common—cluster research can be the key to unlocking your genealogical puzzles. By examining the people who surrounded your ancestor—the friends, associates, and neighbors—you can separate individuals with the same name, untangle multiple families in one place, and uncover biographical details you might otherwise miss. Join us to explore practical strategies and real-world examples that show how powerful the FAN principle can be.
Fri, October 17 2025: 16:45 UTC
Fri, October 17 2025: 19:30 UTC
Assembling Indirect Evidence to Locate the Mother, Siblings, & Slaveowner of Freedman Arthur Braud (a 2025 Reisinger Lecture)
Fri, October 17 2025: 19:30 UTC
Research on formerly enslaved people is difficult by its very nature because enslaved people were classed as property prior to the Civil War and faced the challenges of marginalization in the segregated society that developed after the War. Crucial to uncovering information on enslaved people prior to emancipation is studying their lives as freedpeople after for clues as to who their families were and who their former owners might have been. As with any family, clues regarding identity, relationships, and ownership during slavery, are often uncovered as the result of applying the FAN principle and piecing together potential family groups.
Research on formerly enslaved people is difficult by its very nature because enslaved people were classed as property prior to the Civil War and faced the challenges of marginalization in the segregated society that developed after the War. Crucial to uncovering information on enslaved people prior to emancipation is studying their lives as freedpeople after for clues as to who their families were and who their former owners might have been. As with any family, clues regarding identity, relationships, and ownership during slavery, are often uncovered as the result of applying the FAN principle and piecing together potential family groups.
Fri, October 17 2025: 19:30 UTC
Fri, October 17 2025: 22:00 UTC
¡Eureka! Confirmación del Lineaje Ancestral: DNA and Documents Prove a Mexican Ancestral Line (a 2025 Reisinger Lecture)
Fri, October 17 2025: 22:00 UTC
Karen will illustrate the genetic confirmation of a Mexican ancestral line that goes back four generations to a small town in Guanajuato, Mexico. Integration of evidence from DNA tests and original records meets the Genealogical Proof Standard. Lecture in English using Mexican records.
Karen will illustrate the genetic confirmation of a Mexican ancestral line that goes back four generations to a small town in Guanajuato, Mexico. Integration of evidence from DNA tests and original records meets the Genealogical Proof Standard. Lecture in English using Mexican records.
Fri, October 17 2025: 22:00 UTC