evidence

Evidence is that which tends to prove or disprove something. It can be direct or circumstantial and deemed faulty or valid. Evidence can take many forms, including personal testimony, written documentation, experience and observation.

In genealogy, various types of evidence are used to prove family relationships and information. Faulty evidence can lead to incorrect assumptions and/or tying into unrelated family lines. Information acquired from others should always be verified. Evidence is judged on the reliability of the source. Certain types of sources are considered more reliable for certain types of events and are generally classified as primary sources and secondary sources. Evaluating the work of others and documenting your own evidence, also known as documenting sources, is important to successful and credible research.