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In depth
FamilySearch (FamilySearch.org) is the world's largest free genealogy database, operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It contains billions of records from around the world, including vital records, parish records, census records, and immigration records.
For CBD cases, FamilySearch is a primary research tool: (1) the catalog of microfilmed records (now digitized) from archives worldwide, (2) the indexed vital records (particularly for Italy, Mexico, and Latin America), and (3) the user-submitted family trees (which can provide leads, though they must be verified).
FamilySearch is free to use but requires registration. Most records are available online; some require visiting a FamilySearch Family History Center for access to restricted records.
Related terms
Ancestry (Ancestry.com) is the world's largest commercial genealogy database, with billions of records and DNA testing services.
MyHeritage is a commercial genealogy database and DNA testing service, particularly strong in European records.
Genealogy is the study of family history and descent, the foundational research discipline for CBD cases.
A family tree is a diagram showing family relationships across generations, the visual representation of the citizenship chain in CBD cases.
A pedigree is a documented line of descent, the formal genealogical record used to prove the citizenship chain in CBD cases.
An ahnentafel is a numbered list of ancestors in a pedigree, using a specific numbering system that allows compact representation of multi-generational lineages.