Introduction
When Standards Apply

Genealogists adhere to principles of competence, regardless of whether the results of their studies are communicated orally (in lectures and courses) or in writing (published in print or electronic format, privately circlulated among family members or correspondents, reported to clients or employers, or placed in one's own research files). These standards of competence extend to all phases of a research project:

●  Collecting the information;
●  Evaluating the evidence; and
●  Compliling the results.

They also apply to all phases of teaching activities:

●  Lecturing;
●  Presenting classroom sessions; and
●  Preparing written instuctional materals.

They apply, also, to participation in the kinds of continuing education that raises the skill levels of individuals and of the field as a whole.

Research Standards
The Genealogical Proof Standard

The ultimate goal for all genealogists is to assemble (and perhaps share with others) a reconstructed family history that is as close to the truth as possible. In order to achieve that goal, we adhere to an overall standard by which we measure the credibility of the statements we make about ancestral identities, relationships, life events, and biographical details.