Normally an ancestor has to be dead to have an estate settlement, has to be born to have a birth certificate, etc.
Think about what really HAS to be true about your ancestor or relative when you researching them. He didn’t have to get married to reproduce. He didn’t have to name his oldest son after his father. She didn’t have to get married near where her first child was born. He didn’t have to have a relative witness every document he signed. There are few “have tos” in genealogy. Make certain you aren’t using “have tos” to make brick walls for yourself.
When this tip appeared originally, I used the phrase “when your ancestor wrote his will.” Of course not every ancestor was male and females had wills as well. But it’s unlikely your ancestor actually wrote his or her will–it was crafted by an attorney or another legal professional. Most likely the only writing your relative did on their will was to sign their name on it.
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