Code of Ethics
The APG Code of Ethics and Professional Practices serves to promote:
- a truthful approach to genealogy, family history, and local history
- the trust and security of genealogical consumers
- careful and respectful treatment of records, repositories and their staffs, other professionals, and genealogical organizations and associations.
Consistent with these purposes, I agree to:
- Present research results and opinions in a clear, well-organized manner
- Refrain from withholding, suppressing, or knowingly misquoting or misinterpreting sources or data
- Report appropriately qualified genealogical conclusions in writing based on the weight of the evidence with fully and accurately cited sources
- Represent my abilities, services, and credentials honestly, avoiding the use of misleading or exaggerated statements
- Engage in sufficient continuing education to maintain competence and comply with applicable requirements
- Prepare and abide by written agreements regarding applicable project scope, fees, charges, payment structures, and deliverables without concealment or misrepresentation
- Disclose potential conflicts of interest
- Maintain confidentiality of client communications and research, except as permitted in writing by the client or required by court or professional disciplinary proceedings
- Treat information concerning living people with appropriate discretion
- Refrain from violating or encouraging others to violate laws or regulations concerning copyright, rights to privacy, business practices, or other pertinent subjects
- Refrain from mutilating, rearranging, or removing from their proper custodians printed, original, microfilmed, or electronic records
- Give proper credit to the work of others and refrain from plagiarism
- Refrain from soliciting established clients of another researcher through denigration, violation of laws or regulations, or other improper means
- Refrain from behaviours or statements that malign or are maliciously calculated to injure the profession; individual genealogists; genealogical associations, programs, or educational organisations; or the Association of Professional Genealogists.
Have a look too at the The Nature of Genealogical Records .