Start your family history with direct family knowledge and documents. Use a mix of free and subscription genealogy sites, digitized archives, and DNA testing to generate leads. Treat each discovery as a lead to verify with records, organize your research, and hire qualified professionals for difficult problems. Collaborate with communities while protecting living people's privacy. Genealogy takes time, but methodical searching and documentation produce reliable family narratives.
Start with what you know
Begin with yourself and the relatives around you. Record full names, birth/marriage/death dates, places, and any stories, photos, or documents your family keeps. These first-hand details create the core of your family tree and point to the records you'll need next.Use free and subscription sites to widen your search
Online genealogy platforms host billions of records and user trees. FamilySearch offers free access to many digitized records and collaborative family trees. Commercial sites such as Ancestry and MyHeritage provide large indexed collections and search tools, usually behind a subscription. Local and national archives, state vital records offices, and library databases also publish digitized collections you can search.Remember historical records beyond vital statistics
Census records, immigration and naturalization files, land deeds, probate records, military service files, and church registers can all produce leads. Many of these have been digitized or indexed in recent years, but availability varies by country and jurisdiction.DNA can be a powerful lead - and a limitation
Consumer DNA tests (for example, AncestryDNA, 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, and MyHeritage DNA) can identify genetic cousins and suggest geographic origins. DNA is best used alongside documentary research: it can point you to living relatives and ancestral lines but does not replace original records or citations.Hire help when you need it
Professional genealogists can break research roadblocks, access restricted archives, or translate foreign-language records. Look for experienced professionals who follow ethical standards and provide clear source citations. Organizations such as the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Board for Certification of Genealogists list practitioners and certification information.Organize leads and verify sources
Treat every new find as a lead, not a fact, until you verify it. Keep a research log, save copies of documents, and note where each piece of information came from. Careful citation helps you evaluate conflicting information later.Collaborate and share, but guard privacy
Genealogy communities, local societies, and online message boards can introduce you to relatives and expertise. Be mindful of privacy and shared-data policies: respect living people's privacy and read site terms before uploading DNA results or sensitive documents.Expect surprises and enjoy the process
Genealogy often produces unexpected discoveries - new relatives, migration paths, or occupations. The work takes time, but incremental leads build a more accurate picture of your family history. Start small, follow each lead, and document what you find.FAQs about Genealogy Leads
What is the best place to start my genealogy search?
Start at home: record names, dates, places, photos, and documents from relatives. Those details guide which records and online collections to search next.
Can DNA testing replace traditional records?
No. DNA testing can reveal genetic relatives and broad origins, but it complements rather than replaces documentary research and source verification.
When should I hire a professional genealogist?
Hire a professional when you hit a research roadblock, need records from distant or restricted archives, or want expertise in foreign-language or specialized records. Choose someone who provides clear citations and follows professional standards.
How do I avoid false leads?
Keep a research log, verify each fact with original records when possible, and document sources. Treat user-submitted family trees as hints, not definitive proof.