Hi there! I'm Lisa Lisson, and I'm passionate about helping people like you discover their ancestors and expand their family tree without feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about the next steps.
Are you sure your family tree is REALLY right?
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Hi, Reader, Sometimes the best thing you can do for your family tree is not add another record. It’s to step back and ask yourself: Do I actually trust what I’ve built? On Tuesday, July 14 at 7:00 PM Eastern, I’m hosting a free live genealogy workshop: Build a Family Tree You Can Trust: The key decisions that matter whether you’re starting today or starting over This workshop is for you if:
We’ll talk about why family trees can look correct before they actually are, how to avoid common wrong turns, and how to make better research decisions no matter how long you’ve been researching. The workshop is free, and a replay will be available for one week to registered attendees. I’m offering this workshop as part of my fundraising for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk. In August, I’ll be walking 60 miles over three days in Boston, and instead of charging for the workshop, I’m inviting attendees to consider making an optional donation to support my walk. Suggested donation: $25 Any amount is appreciated.
I’d love to have you join me, and feel free to share this with a friend who is curious about family history or who could use a fresh look at their research. Lisa |
Are You My Cousin? Newsletter
Hi there! I'm Lisa Lisson, and I'm passionate about helping people like you discover their ancestors and expand their family tree without feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about the next steps.
Hi, Reader, With the 4th of July weekend coming up, I hope you have a little time carved out for rest, family, and maybe even a bit of genealogy research, preferably somewhere cool if your weather is anything like ours! I also have some exciting news to share. The Are You My Cousin? website has been selected for Family Tree Magazine’s 101 Best Genealogy Websites of 2026. My site was included in the Best Genealogy News and Advice category, and I’m truly honored. Family Tree Magazine has been...
Hi, Reader, You found the death certificate. Name, date, cause of death confirmed. Filed away. Most genealogists stop there, but the four most useful clues on the document are still sitting unread. I just updated this post with exactly what to look for and why each one matters: → 4 Death Certificate Clues Everyone Misses The first I'd start with: the informant. Who reported the death? If it's a neighbor instead of a family member, that's not random. It's either evidence of estrangement, or a...
Hi, Reader, If you've been doing genealogy research for more than five minutes, you probably have them. A box. A folder. A stack of photographs with faces and zero names. They arrived from an aunt who was cleaning out a closet, or a cousin who "heard you do genealogy," or in my case — literally in the back of a car at Thanksgiving. They're sitting somewhere right now, and every time you look at them, you think: I should do something about these. Here's the thing — you can. And it doesn't...