Protecting Your Research: Genealogical Wills

You have put hours, days, weeks and years into your family research. Blood, sweat and tears–oh yes, the tears of frustration, have gone into your work. Every detail is noted, pictures scanned and labeled, books collected, and records saved. Where will all of your precious research go when you are no longer around?

If you are one of the lucky ones, you have a relative or descendant that is willing to take your research and preserve it for the family. Sometimes, however, there is no one interested in having your genealogical research or you do not feel your items will be taken care of. What do you do?

Simple. Make a genealogical will. Most of us at some point in our lives will make a will for our estate. A genealogical will is along the same lines. Consider it an extension of your will for your estate where you will clearly lay out guidelines specifically for your research and other items such as family photographs and books.

Keep in mind the following when doing your own genealogical will:

When In Doubt- Make a Genealogical Will

You may think your 13 year old daughter will be absolutely willing to take your bins and bins of research and artifacts, but is that reasonable to assume? Ask your family for feedback on what should become of your genealogical research. Does anyone show genuine interest or share the passion for genealogy like you? If someone comes forward and accepts, include their name in the will but prepare with back up plans.

If there is a relative that is only interested in one item or piece of research then specify that on the will as a separate detail.

Make Your Genealogical Will Known

Let those closest to you (spouse, child, parents, sibling) know that you have a genealogical will. Notify anyone specifically listed that they are in your genealogical will. Be sure to give a copy of the will to a relative or keep in a safe place accessible by someone else. I keep mine in a safe and my husband and daughter know where it is located.

List Institutions Research Can Be Donated

Whether there is someone willing to take your research or not- list institutions to donate your work. Examples include: state and local libraries, genealogical societies, historical societies, Church of Latter Day Saints (Familysearch.org), schools, museums, etc. Take a hard look at your research and decide what institutions would benefit from your research. List these places with name, address, and phone number.

Include Yourself As A Source

Don’t forget to source yourself. Include your name on the inside cover of your genealogical books. Put your name on your research binders, photo albums, etc. Wherever possible, be sure to take credit for your hard earned research. This also helps future generations know who did the research and where it came from.

Include your name and most recent address on the genealogical will. Have someone else sign it as a witness. This does not need to be a legal document and does not need to be not notarized (unless a situation calls for it). A genealogical will is simply a way to make your wishes known upon your death.

Divide Up Based On Family Lines, If Necessary

You can also divide up your research based on family lines. For instance, should my daughter not want all of my research, I have stated that research be offered up to her cousins/my nieces/nephews and divided up depending on what side of the family they are from.

If you so choose, you can also be specific in what research goes to which institution. For example, I can state that I want all of my Holmes research to be donated to a local library in Crawford County, Illinois because that is where my Holmes line was centered. Feel free to be as detailed as you want.

A genealogical will is meant to put your mind at ease and attempt to preserve your family history. You do not need to stick to a strict layout. Make the will work for you and include what you feel is necessary. Be as detailed as you would like. Take inventory of all your genealogical items/research before beginning your will to ensure all of your possessions are accounted for.