It can be very time consuming to rustle through documents or search the records at the library again to determine where each bit of information came from. Taking the time to document your pedigree chart will help you pick up where you left off quickly, enable you to analyze your research, and help someone else see what research you have completed.
Most people are unsure of what needs to be documented.
A general rule is to document any information that is not a common fact. In addition, documenting several records that contain the same information will make your genealogy credible. As you begin your research, you will undoubtedly look through many documents, especially if you are working in the United States. It is likely to find a birth date in a birth certificate, census record, obituary, and a family bible. It is important that you document each record as a source for the birth date.