Why use a research checklist
Genealogy is full of small, easy-to-skip steps: checking spelling variants, looking for a will, searching the neighbors in a census. A checklist makes sure you run the same core searches for every ancestor, which reduces gaps and repeated work.
Use it alongside a research log (see how to organize genealogy research) so you record not only what you searched but what you found.
The checklist
Copy this list into a document or spreadsheet and make one copy per person.
ANCESTOR: ______________________ Date started: ________
1. START
[ ] Write the research question
[ ] List what is already known, with sources
[ ] Ask relatives and collect family papers and photos
2. BIRTH AND FAMILY
[ ] Birth, baptism or christening record
[ ] Parents' names and marriage record
[ ] Siblings
3. MARRIAGE
[ ] Marriage record, license, banns or church entry
[ ] Newspaper announcement
4. RESIDENCE
[ ] Census records for every available year
[ ] City directories
[ ] Land and property records
[ ] Check neighbors and nearby relatives
5. WORK AND SERVICE
[ ] Military records
[ ] Occupation records or employer records
6. MOVES AND MIGRATION
[ ] Immigration or passenger records
[ ] Naturalization records
[ ] Passport or travel records
7. DEATH
[ ] Death certificate or civil death record
[ ] Burial and cemetery records
[ ] Obituary
[ ] Probate file and will
8. BEFORE YOU FINISH
[ ] Search spelling and name variants
[ ] Record negative searches in the log
[ ] Cite every source
[ ] Note conflicts between records
[ ] List next stepsWhy each group matters
Birth, marriage and death records form the backbone of a family line, but they are often not available for earlier periods or some places. Census records, directories and land records help you place a person in a location at a given time, and often reveal household members you did not know about. For citing census pages, see how to cite census records in Chicago style.
Probate records, including wills and estate papers, sometimes name heirs and relationships that no other record does. Immigration and naturalization papers can point to a town of origin, which opens up records in the old country.
Five questions to ask about an ancestor
When you reach a gap, these questions help direct the next search:
- Where and when was this person born, married and buried?
- Who were their parents, spouse, children and close relatives?
- Where did they live, and did they move?
- What did they do for a living, and did they serve in the military?
- What records would exist for a person in this place and time, and where are they held?
These are a good basis for interviews with older relatives too. Ask open questions and record the answers with names, places and dates, then treat them as clues to verify.
Getting documentation
Many records can be found in online databases, but some exist only at local archives, courthouses, churches or civil registry offices. For an example of tracking down parish records abroad, see Italian genealogy church records. When a record is not online, look for the repository that holds it and check its request process and fees. Vital records access rules vary by place and date; recent records are often restricted to family members.
If your question involves a child born outside marriage, see how to trace illegitimate ancestors, since the usual record trail may differ.
Should you hire a genealogist?
If you are stuck on a line, or the records are in another country or language, hiring a professional may help. Costs vary widely by researcher, region and scope, so ask for a written estimate and a description of what the work will cover. A good researcher will deliver a report; our genealogy research report template shows what to expect.
Frequently asked questions
Can ChatGPT draw a family tree?
AI tools can produce a rough diagram from details you supply, but they cannot confirm that the relationships are correct. Genealogy software is better for building a tree you plan to maintain.
How do I get genealogical documentation?
Start with online record collections, then contact the archive or office that holds the original. Always request the original or an image of it, rather than relying only on an index.
What is the average cost to hire a genealogist?
There is no single standard rate. Fees depend on the experience of the researcher, the location of the records and the size of the project, so compare several quotes.