family search website - reliable?

[JEL93]

Im just wondering
is family search reliable?
I can see my family on there,
but the records/family trees on family search dont make sense - ive seen it cited it everywhere though when i search.
is it a case that this website is just like ancestry where nearly everyones tree, is wrong?

[Erato]

The value of FamilySearch isn't the trees, it's the huge number of records, especially for the United States.

[Johnf04]

The tree on Family Search is a "world tree" - a single tree that any member can edit. This explains a lot of the strangeness found there.

[Neale1961]

is it a case that this website is just like ancestry where nearly everyones tree, is wrong?

Yes, more or less. Be sure you check anything before accepting it as correct.
The trees on Family Search are public trees to which anyone can contribute - add to, or change. I have seen some that are well documented, but others that are obviously just twaddle.

[AR.Usher]

You can follow people on the family tree so when anyone changes anything to their information, you get notified.

I normally use it as a quick way to collect and store data for the time being until I manage to write it down, but it has helped me find relatives and trees made by others I wouldn't have found otherwise.

[rosie99]

Like any online trees the information should always be backed up by seeing the original documents, not transcripts

[KGarrad]

I only use FamilySearch to find records.
I have never looked at trees on there!

[MollyC]

It was said in a previous thread that FamilySearch is "Irritating, but useful".

[JenB]

The value of FamilySearch isn't the trees, it's the huge number of records, especially for the United States.

Exactly! There are are a huge number of records to be found via a search of the catalogue. I am amazed by how few people, including Rootschatters, seem to use this.