What is a Collateral Relative and Why Do They Matter?

Genealogy Question of the Day

Q. "I am a total novice as far as family trees go, and I need to know exactly what a 'collateral descendant' is."

Online Course: 6 Ancestors in 6 Days

Explore your ancestry in this 6-day, hands-on, intensive course guided by expert instructor, Lisa Alzo. Each day, you’ll choose the person you want to research with the goal of finding at least one piece of evidence to support the type of fact we'll be researching for that day. You’ll get a packet of information, including video lessons and worksheets, that will help you overcome challenges, such as missing records and alternative resources. 

A Searchable Table of Available State Censuses

Genealogists love federal censuses, but state censuses can prove just as helpful. Use our searchable table to figure out what years these records were taken.

Research US Census Records with this Cheat Sheet

Census records are an essential genealogy source, and this quick-reference PDF is essential for finding your ancestors in the census. See at a glance what censuses exist for your ancestors’ states, where to find censuses on genealogy websites, and more.

Premium: A 7-Day Genealogy Research Plan

Get down to business with this day-by-day guide to finding your ancestors fast. Each day in this genealogy research plan covers a different record group.