Ways to handle contradicting genealogical evidence

Here are three simple ways to handle contradicting evidence:

Ask Questions. As you come across conflicting fragments of information in your research that you’re unsure how to handle, take a step back and consider the following questions:

• When and where was the record created?
• What information is missing or incomplete from the record?
• How was the information recorded?
• Who created the record?
• How reliable is the information in the record?

By asking these questions, you’ll begin to piece bits of information together while discovering what other research still needs to be done...

And then you make a research plan, and you keep a research log so you know where you’ve been and what you’ve found.

From How to Successfully Apply the Genealogical Proof Standard