If There is Any Doubt

It never hurts to ask someone else “what is this?”

I ran across an online posting indicating a former US president had written a decree in a divorce case. While I remembered the president having been an attorney, I did not remember him being a judge. Knowing that memories are sometimes ephemeral things (mine included), I recognized the fact that I could be wrong.

Instead of scanning biographies of the former president, I decided to look at the original copy of the document to which the posting referred. A quick read of it made it clear what it was: a bill of complaint in a divorce case. It was not any sort of verdict or order issued by a judge. The former president had written a “bill” for his client.

It reminded me that when I run across something I’m not 100% familiar with that seeking the opinion of someone else who is more versed in those items than I am. There’s nothing wrong with asking someone their opinion of what something means.

And there is nothing wrong with checking your memory. Sometimes we are correct. Sometimes we are not.

Get more tips in our Genealogy Tip of the Day book.