The application MyHeritage is a powerful tool for anyone looking to discover information about their family tree, family connections, and even possible inheritance. It can be downloaded for free from the app stores below.
MyHeritage: Family Tree
What is MyHeritage
MyHeritage is a genealogy app, specifically for researching ancestors and family history. It allows users to build detailed family trees, explore billions of historical records, and identify family connections with people around the world. The platform also offers DNA testing options that help uncover ethnic origins and unknown relatives.
Available for Android and iOS, MyHeritage combines technology with access to a vast historical database. It's an efficient tool for those seeking to discover their inheritance rights, find unknown relatives, or simply better understand their family roots.
Main features
The app offers a range of features that make it easier to find relevant information about your family and potential inheritances. Key features include:
- Family tree creation: With just a few basic pieces of information, like names and dates of birth, you can start your family tree and let the system automatically suggest connections.
- Smart Match: The platform compares your data with millions of other family trees and historical records, suggesting relatives or documents that may contain valuable information.
- Search historical records: You can search billions of documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, immigration records, censuses, and more.
- Facial recognition: The Photo Discoveries tool uses photos of relatives to suggest connections to other families and help identify possible inheritances linked to certain surnames.
- DNA test: Although optional and paid, the DNA kit helps confirm family ties and discover close or distant relatives, even without documentary records.
How the app helps discover inheritances
While MyHeritage isn't a legal app, it can be a powerful gateway to uncovering forgotten inheritances. By finding previously unknown relatives, you can identify any ongoing probate proceedings or unclaimed assets related to your family line.
Additionally, the historical records and old documents available on the platform help you build a clearer picture of your ancestors' assets. Often, inheritances remain stagnant for years due to a lack of identified heirs. With the app's help, you can gather essential information that will put you on the path to claiming something that is rightfully yours.
Interface and usability
MyHeritage has a modern, intuitive, and user-friendly interface, even for those new to genealogy or technology. Everything is organized into clear sections, such as family tree, research, DNA, photos, and historical records.
Upon launch, the app guides the user step-by-step through creating a family tree. From there, it automatically presents suggestions for connections that can be accepted or rejected. The system also sends notifications whenever new records are found, keeping you updated on potential discoveries.
Free or paid?
The app follows the freemium model. This means you can use several features for free, including:
- Creation of the family tree
- Receiving suggestions from relatives
- Limited access to historical records
However, to have full access to documents and records, in addition to taking the DNA test, you'll need to sign up for a paid plan or purchase the DNA kit separately. Even so, the free version already offers enough features to begin researching potential inheritances and relevant family connections.
Data privacy and security
Security is a key aspect of handling personal and family information. MyHeritage uses advanced encryption to protect user data. Additionally, you can enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to further enhance account protection.
The genetic data of users who take the DNA test is stored separately and, according to the company, is not sold or shared with third parties without the user's consent.
Tips for using MyHeritage to search for inheritances
To get the most out of the app and increase your chances of discovering inheritances, here are some practical tips:
- Start with the oldest: Talk to older family members to gather names, dates, and stories. This will help you build your initial tree.
- Search with name variations: Older surnames often had different spellings. Try variations when searching.
- Take advantage of historical records: Even in the free version, many documents are available. Old certificates and records may indicate links to assets or properties.
- Use location search: Filtering documents by place of birth or residence can reveal relatives who might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
- Consider DNA testing: It can confirm ties with distant relatives and open up new possibilities for discovery, including inheritances that depend on genetic proof.
Conclusion
Discovering inheritances is not a simple task, but with the use of technology, it has become much more accessible and faster. MyHeritage is a reliable, comprehensive, and easy-to-use app that can help you find valuable family connections and even potential assets left behind by relatives you never knew existed.
Even without technical knowledge, anyone can start searching for family information and find clues that lead to forgotten estates and inheritances. And best of all, many of these features are available for free.
If you want to take the first step towards finding out if you are entitled to any inheritance, MyHeritage is one of the best tools available today. Download the app below and start your family journey today.
