When you’re choosing to hire a professional genealogist, it can be hard to tell who to ask. Do you choose the person with a regional specialty? An experienced lineage society specialist? In between? Why does it matter?
Lineage societies currently operate under their own research standards. They seek documentation of two things: the ancestor’s service and the line. To consider the line documented, they ask for support of five points in each generation up to the ancestor: date and place of birth for both spouses; date and place of death for both spouses; date and place of marriage for both spouses; the connection between parents and child; and the connection between spouses. The definition of documentation varies substantially from that used in academic or traditional genealogy. Instead of a reasonably exhaustive search, societies generally expect that a single source will be used as support of a point. For example, a gravestone image may be the only source submitted as evidence of a death. Societies also prioritize direct evidence over indirect evidence and may prioritize vital records over all other sources.
If your genealogist is working directly on your application, it’s helpful to ensure that they are familiar with and comfortable with these standards. “Overdocumenting” an application may create issues down the road. However, if there’s an issue with a specific research question, a regional specialist may be a better fit. When in doubt, ask your genealogist!