Discover your family history with these practical, tried-and-true strategies for conquering genealogy's toughest problems. This guide, newly updated to reflect the latest trends in genealogy, will give you the helpful advice you need. Has your family history research hit a brick wall? Marsha Hoffman Rising's newly updated bestselling book The Family Tree Problem Solver has the solutions to help you find the answers you seek. Here, you'll find answers to genealogy's toughest problems. Inside, you'll find: Work-arounds for lost or destroyed records Techniques for finding ancestors with common names Strategies for analysing your problem and creating a successful research plan Ideas on how to find vital records before civil registration Troubleshooting advice for interpreting your DNA results Tips for finding "missing" ancestors in censuses Instructions for investigating collateral kin to further your family tree Methods for finding ancestors who lived before 1850 Case studies that show you how to apply these strategies to real-life research problems AUTHOR: Marsha Hoffman Rising (1945-2010) was a professional genealogist with more than twenty-five years of experience who specialized in problem-solving related to nineteenth-century research. She served on a number of boards for genealogical organizations, including the Board for Certification of Genealogists, the New England Historic Genealogical Society, and the Federation of Genealogical Societies. Marsha was known for her problem-solving lectures, and began teaching practical and effective methods for solving genealogical problems in 1981. During her time as a genealogy educator, she lectured at multiple National Genealogical Society and Federation of Genealogical Societies conferences, as well as at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. She was awarded the National Genealogical Society Award of Merit in 1989 and wrote for publications such as The American Genealogist, Ozar'kin, and National Genealogical Society Quarterly. 55 b/w illustrations