AGRA's Code of Practice

All Members Should:

1. Be honest and discreet in relations with clients, the public and fellow professionals.
2. Avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and research.
3. Offer candid advice concerning the possible or probable results of any projected research.
4. Make reports as clear and as definite as the facts allow
5. Clearly explain, if unable to resolve a client's problems, the reason why, and if possible suggest alternative avenues of research
6. Strive to avoid the misquotation of any documents, or the citing as authoritative of any questionable source
7. Seek, when appropriate, to examine original sources
8. Respect the confidential nature of a client's work, and not divulge any information concerning a client's family, business or personal affairs without prior consent.
9. Declare any personal or financial interest which might tend to compromise impartiality towards a client.
10. In the case of contact to be made with relations discovered by research, obtain written guidance from the Secretary.
11. If involved in a complaint, co-operate fully with the Association in its investigation.

Members Should Not:

1. Engage in exaggerated, misleading or false publicity.
2. Knowingly publish as fact anything known to be false or unproven, nor be a party to such action by others.
3. Knowingly injure or attempt to injure the professional reputation, prospects or practice of any other genealogist or professional researcher.
4. Knowingly injure or attempt to injure the reputation or prospects of the Association.
5. Present another's work as their own.
6. Conceal or withhold data relevant to a client's instructions.
7. Publish the results of research for which clients have paid without prior consent.

By order of Council, 2 November 1972; revised July 1993, April 1994, September 1997, September 2001 and September 2008