Research Insights
Practical genealogy research, record guides, and insights from working case files.
A recent test put five real questions about Canadian citizenship by descent to an AI chatbot. It got the processing time wrong and left out three requirements that decide applications.
Quebec centralized civil registration on 1 January 1994. A certificate printed before that date is not accepted for a citizenship by descent claim, whatever the date of the event it records.
On 17 June 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada updated its proof of citizenship document checklist, form CIT 0014. The update is short. Two new sentences at the top of the checklist raise the bar for what will support a citizenship by descent claim, and a change in wording running through the rest of the...
Scotland's historical records are among the most detailed in the world — and among the most expensive and complex to navigate. Here is what makes them exceptional, and where the real challenges begin.
Genealogy research plays a central role in proving Canadian ancestry for citizenship applications. Here is what the documentation process involves and where a professional genealogist fits in.
DNA testing is one of the most powerful tools available in modern genealogy research — but only when used alongside traditional records. Here is what it can and cannot do.
Métis Nation citizenship requires documented genealogical evidence, not just family stories or DNA results. Here is what the research process actually involves and what records are used.
Before spending money on professional research, there are a few things you can do yourself that will make the process faster, cheaper, and more productive. Here is where to start.
