Legacy Family Tree Webinars 2026 Mexico Research Series

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I am happy to announce that I have partnered with Legacy Family Tree Webinars again this year to bring you another great series of educational webinars focusing on Mexican and Mexican American genealogy.

The 2026 Webinar Schedule

I have a great teaching team of colleagues joining me to provide excellent in-depth instruction for researching Spanish colonial, Mexican, and Mexican American families. I learn so much from each of these great instructors myself.

Using Marriage Dispensations to Find Ancestors in Mexico

Marriage dispensations provide a privileged window into social and family life in viceroyal Mexico. Dispensations, or special permissions to marry granted by Catholic bishops, reveal the obstacles that had to be resolved before ecclesiastical authorities in order to contract marriage. This webinar examines dispensations for consanguinity and for ultramarinos (foreign-born individuals). In areas with high levels of endogamy, marriage dispensations become essential resources to reconstruct family relationships, even extending beyond other church records.

• Date & Time: Friday, January 16, 2026 (2:00 pm Eastern)
• Instructor: Nefi Arenas Salazar, AG®

The Largest Diocese: History and Records of the Archivo Histórico del Arquidiócesis of Guadalajara

Overview of the history of the Guadalajara archdiocese and its changing boundaries, which impact research throughout many regions of Mexico. We will also review the collections held by the Archdiocese archives and what is available online and in-person. 

• Date & Time: Friday, March 20, 2026 (2:00 pm Eastern)
• Instructor: Lisa Medina

From swords to settlers: Researching conquistador ancestors in 16th century New Spain (Mexico)

Many families in Mexico and beyond descend from the first Spanish conquerors and settlers of New Spain. This webinar will guide you through key sources and strategies to identify conquistador ancestors in the 1500s. Learn how to navigate both Spanish and colonial archives, and to connect names across centuries from books, contemporary chronicles, petitions to the Spanish government, and more. 

• Date & Time: Friday, May 15, 2026 (2:00 pm Eastern)
• Instructor: Nefi Arenas Salazar, AG®

Wills and Testaments in the Spanish Colonial Southwest

This presentation uncovers the genealogical treasures hidden within Spanish colonial wills and testaments. Far more than simple legal documents, these records provide rare insights into family relationships, inheritance patterns, and extended kinship networks that shaped colonial communities. Detailed inventories of clothing, household goods, livestock, and personal possessions offer intimate glimpses into the daily lives of our colonial ancestors — revealing their values, cultural traditions, devotion to faith, and resilience on the far edges of the Spanish frontier. Attendees will also learn where to locate these records, how to analyze their contents, and effective strategies for integrating them into personal research to build richer, more accurate family histories.

• Date & Time: Friday, July 17, 2026 (2:00 pm Eastern)
• Instructor: Henrietta Martinez Christmas

Husband, Father, and Revolutionary: The Case of Ramón Treviño

Listen to the powerful and fascinating story of Mexican revolutionaries as we examine records from both sides of the border to trace the movements (and confirm the identity) of Ramón Treviño, who was surveilled by Mexican and U.S. authorities in the lead-up to the revolution.

• Date & Time: Friday, September 18, 2026 (2:00 pm Eastern)
• Instructor: Lisa Medina

Taking a Deep Dive into Mexico – U.S. Border Crossing Records

The documents found in the U.S. border crossing record collections are packed with valuable information often missed when researching Mexican immigrants. This webinar covers historical legal context pertaining to record keeping at the Mexican border, examines the most common types of documents in these collections, and highlights situations specific to researching Mexican families. Learn how to decipher clues found in these records that lead to other important immigration records and how to obtain those.

• Date & Time: Friday, November 20, 2026 (2:00 pm Eastern)
• Instructor: Colleen Robledo Greene, MLIS, FTxSGS

How to Register for the Series

Registration is open for the Legacy Family Tree Webinar 2026 Mexico Research Series. That web page will allow you to bulk register for the entire series all at once. Register today on the Legacy Family Tree website!

Can’t make the live broadcast times? Recordings will be available in the Webinar Library.

About Legacy Family Tree Webinars

Legacy Family Tree Webinars produces a regular series of high quality educational webinars on a variety of genealogy topics, for all levels of experience. Live webinars are available free to the public. However, a subscription membership provides on-demand access to their robust library of previously recorded webinars and a copy of the presentation handout.

I factor an annual membership ($49.95) into my genealogy education plan and budget.