Evidentia and the Genealogical Proof Standard

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The Evidentia Genealogical Proof Standard integration is one of the most important aspects of how the software was designed. Every feature in Evidentia maps directly to one of the 5 elements of the GPS — the framework established by the Board for Certification of Genealogists that defines what rigorous, credible genealogical research looks like.

Whether you are working toward BCG certification or simply want to research with confidence, here’s how Evidentia supports each element:

So how does Evidentia support the tenants of the Genealogical Proof Standard?

How Evidentia Meets Each Genealogical Proof Standard Requirement

Element of the GPS	Supported by Evidentia
Reasonably exhaustive search	Evidentia’s Research Summary Report tallies the current breadth of cited source material in an easy to review format. Evidentia’s source first approach encourages a thorough cataloguing of source material, often uncovering minor facts that might otherwise not be captured by a researcher using other software.
Complete and accurate citation of sources	Evidentia REQUIRES citations before a researcher can draw ANY conclusions. All Evidentia reports include proper citations of source materials. Evidentia’s customizable Citation Templates insures consistent citations written based on the researcher’s preferred methodology.
Analysis and correlation of the collected information	Evidentia requires that EVERY assertion be analyzed for quality and acknowledged with an ‘analysis’ paragraph before any conclusions can be drawn. By not hard linking claims to subjects, Evidentia encourages capturing not only positive evidence, but also conflicting and even ‘missing’ evidence.
Resolution of conflicting evidence.	Evidentia’s Analyze Evidence screen brings all relevant assertions together in one place, encouraging the researcher to weigh the source of information and review conflicting evidence. Where conflicting evidence may add confusion when included as supporting information in a standard genealogy program, Evidentia is built from the start to accept, and indeed expect, this kind of data.
Soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion.	When analysis is complete, Evidentia unlocks a separate Summary Conclusion box for documenting the current conclusion based on ALL the evidence. The Summary Conclusion is prominently featured in Evidentia’s Genealogical Proof Report, the center piece of Evidentia Evidentia’s Summary Conclusion is always presented in the context of all individual assertions, holding the researcher accountable for all the relevant information, and insuring a response that can be reviewed for credibility.

Why the Genealogical Proof Standard Matters

The Genealogical Proof Standard is not just a checklist — it is a discipline. Many genealogists collect facts without evaluating them, which leads to family trees built on unverified assumptions. The GPS forces researchers to slow down, look critically at every source, and acknowledge what the evidence actually says rather than what they hope it says.

Evidentia was built with this same philosophy. The software does not let you shortcut the process. You must record your source before you record your claim. You must analyze each claim before you draw a conclusion. This workflow aligns precisely with how the GPS expects a professional genealogist to operate.

If you are studying for BCG certification, preparing a proof argument, or simply trying to do more credible research, Evidentia gives you the structure to stay on track. Every report Evidentia generates — from the Source Inventory to the Genealogical Proof Report — reflects the standards that distinguish rigorous research from casual ancestor collecting.

Want to see Evidentia in action? Learn how to analyze genealogy evidence step by step using Evidentia’s 4-step claim analysis method.