Got questions? Get answers!

This week I've rounded up a number of ways you can seek answers to your genealogical queries and potentially break down brick walls in your research.  All are totally free to use, including the ones that require you to register with them.

Recently the Who Do You Think You Are? magazine upgraded its website, losing its traditional message forum that had been so well-used over the years.  There are two alternatives now, though: their Facebook page, where you can post your questions, or the Who When Where Genealogy Forum, which has been set up by former users of the old WDYTYA? message boards.

Record provider FindMyPast also has its own Facebook page where you can ask experts' advice or watch how-to videos.  Meanwhile Ancestry's Message Boards cover a wide range of topics such as emigration, folklore, and even volunteer projects.  It's the kind of rabbit hole you could easily get lost in but well worth investigating.

You can join any number of FamilySearch Groups, with the option to sign up for emails alerting you to questions and answers that have been posted.  And Rootschat is a popular British genealogy forum offering answers and advice; use it to get help with hard-to-read handwriting, or identifying the background in an old photograph.

If you want live help, Ancestry Hour happens on Twitter every Tuesday at 7pm UK time.  Genealogists from around the world converge to discuss their recent successes (or lack thereof!) and ask for ideas and inspiration.  If you can't join in live, just use the hashtag #AncestryHour and click on the "Latest" tab to find the most recent tweets.  It's a fast-moving chat with a good sense of humour, so dive in and ask a question, and you may get some great suggestions for solving your knotty tree problem.  A few weeks ago I posted a photo of two of my uncles in their WW2 uniforms, asking if anyone could identify their regimental insignia - and within minutes I had the answer, from a military history specialist.

These are just a few suggestions - you'll find extensive lists of forums and help communities in the Cyndi's List: Queries & Message Boards section.

When asking for help online, it's vital to make your query stand out and be easily understood.  You'll find tips on posting the perfect enquiry at my previous blog post Help! Where Do I Look Now?