Anyone interested in family history will find sifting through genealogy records fascinating. When you have the chance to explore your ancestors' lives, you will obtain a completely new perspective on your own current circumstances. However, gaining access to genealogy records can be somewhat tricky. In order to make your genealogy records search easier, it is best to know about the records available for review and the information you should be able to find on each document.

Among the most popular genealogy records are census records. In the United States, the Census Bureau collects data from every household at intervals of ten years. This type of genealogy records can often provide you with a great deal of valuable information, including names, ages, birth places, birth dates, parent names, addresses, marital status, occupation and home value of family members.

Genealogy records can also help to confirm information regarding your ancestor's arrival to the country. Most people involved in genealogy projects are interested in learning about their ancestors that were the first to arrive in the United States. Sometimes referred to as ship passenger arrival records, immigration records can provide important details about immigrants' age, profession, nationality, last place of residence and the names of any relatives that may have planned to join their family in the United States. Immigration records are organized according to Port of Arrival, and they typically only go back as far as 1820.

Another type of genealogy records that have proven to be invaluable in a number of research projects are military records. If any of your ancestors served time in the military, your research should definitely include taking a look at all of the relevant military records you can find.

Compiled service records can provide you with valuable information, such as the date the individual was mustered in and when they were mustered out, their unit, their rank, their medical information as well as their basic biological data. Pension records and applications may also contain valuable information, including copies of supporting documentation like marriage certificates, death certificates and discharge papers. You may also be able to find a list of all of the important events that took place during the time that the applicant served in the military.

If you are searching genealogy records, be sure to include land entry case files, which are created when public land is transferred from the government over to a private citizen. Although most people do not think of land records as a type of genealogy records, they are often helpful when it comes to verifying someone's age, citizenship, military service or place of birth. Once you know these important details, you may be able to request additional documentation necessary to further your research project.

The central location for most genealogy records is the National Archives. Offices are located throughout the U.S., which makes it easy to view the documents of your choice. In addition, if you are unable to make the trip to their office, you can check out microfilm copies at your local library. You may also be able to order the records that you need over the Internet through the National Archives official website.