1. Take some time and write down everything you can think of about the people you plan to research. Include details such as approximate dates and places of birth, marriage and death; spouse’s name; children’s names; and any other details you feel may help you to distinguish your ancestor from other individuals.

2. Write down your goals when it comes to researching the person. It’s very easy to get sidetracked once you begin your family history research. It can be very exciting to uncover facts you never new about your family and this can cause you to lose sight of your initial goals in tracing your family tree. This is why it’s important to write down your goals in your basic research plan. For instance, your goal might be to uncover the truth about a story that’s been passed from generation to another about your ancestors or to learn more about one side of your family.

3. Begin searching with a genealogically focused search engine to get a clear idea of what might be available. Sites like Ancestry.com are great for hunting information about your great-grandmother. Enter the name and place the person lived in order to narrow the search results. The data returned will give you a pretty good idea of the range of resources that are available.

4. Prioritize the resources you can use. The results that are delivered on these genealogical search engines could turn up different resources like mailing lists, newsgroups, and one-name study sites. It’s a good idea to prioritize the resources you are planning to use. Using one of the sites similar to Ancestry.com that allows you to access civil documents so you can verify important dates is a great place to start.

5. Once you’ve identified the resources you want to use, schedule time to use them. Researching your family history is a truly lifelong pursuit. You can’t download every bit of information and documentation that you need all at once. Researching your family’s history requires a great deal of effort and time so it’s best to schedule times that you will work on specific parts of your plan. Believe it or not, genealogy can be addictive so breaking it down into small tasks allows you to get the most from your research efforts without getting yourself bogged down by information.

There are many websites available that are designed to help you create your family tree for free. I have checked out many of these sites and recommend Mundia.com. As you advance with your research be sure to document your findings in your family tree and share the new information with your family members.

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