When is it safe to get information from an online tree? We will discuss where these trees can be found, how to assess them for reliability, how to cite them, how to use them for clues to further your research, and more. Not all online trees are created equal, but most can be evaluated with a few simple steps. Don’t become victim to the enchantment of an apparent pot of gold.

Speaker Jean Wilcox Hibben has been involved in family research for more than 40 years and has traced her origins to Germany, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Netherlands, England, and France. She was a Board-Certified Genealogist for 10 years (2006–2016) and elected not to renew. She is the 1st vice-president and Webmaster of the Corona (California) Genealogical Society, where she served a number of years as president. She has been on the board of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and the Association of Professional Genealogists. She belongs to the Aurantia Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution in Riverside County, California; the National Genealogical Society; and the Jefferson County New York Genealogical Society, where she maintains the quarterly column “Ask Aunty Jeff” in their newsletter, The Informer.