Research tips, how-to guides, and lessons for anyone tracing their family history.
Where to find birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death records — free and paid. Step-by-step guide for genealogy beginners, with state-by-state timeline of when vital registration began.
Which DNA test is best for genealogy? Compare LivingDNA, AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage & FamilyTreeDNA on database size, tools, and price. Our top pick for beginners.
Which DNA test is best for genealogy? Compare LivingDNA, AncestryDNA, 23andMe, and FamilyTreeDNA. Learn which test to take first — and why DNA works best after you've built your paper tree.
A complete beginner guide to FamilySearch: creating an account, finding records, using the shared Family Tree, the Catalog, the Wiki, and when to move to paid resources.
A beginner's guide to finding immigration records: Ellis Island, FamilySearch, NARA, ship passenger lists, naturalization records, and tips for non-English names.
The best genealogy software for Mac in 2026. Native Mac apps vs. cross-platform compared by skill level — beginners through advanced. Free and paid options covered.
The best genealogy software for beginners in 2026 — free and paid options compared, with tips on which tools to use for US family history research.
You don't need an Ancestry subscription to trace your family history. Learn which free sites to use, how to find records for nothing, and the step-by-step method beginners miss.
Not sure where to begin? This step-by-step guide walks you through starting a family tree — from interviewing relatives to finding records online.
The 10 best completely free genealogy websites for beginners — with honest pros and cons for each so you know exactly where to start your research.
The seven most common mistakes that send genealogy beginners down dead ends — and why knowing them matters more than knowing the databases.
Step-by-step guide to US census records (1790–1950): what each column means, how to find your ancestor in the 1940 census, and fixing name and age errors.
A clear research plan for genealogy beginners — seven steps to build a solid family history foundation without months of wasted searching.
Not sure where to begin with family history? This guide covers the five things every beginner should know before opening a single database.
The free lessons walk you through everything — from your first search to finding ancestors in national archives.
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