Things You'll Need:
- Computer
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Step 1
Type in genealogy in your search box and a list of sites will come up. Most of the sites require membership. There are a couple of good sites that do not require membership.
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Step 2
Most sites offer Family Tree forms. Many cost money. There are a couple of sites which offer free forms and free computer downloads. The free sites are usually the ones to start working so you can determine how interesting this hobby is for you.
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Step 3
One very important thing to do is to document where you get your information. You may have a family Bible, a scrapbook of wedding and birth announcements. Any person you add to your tree beyond those who are alive today you need to document. The reason for this is if this hobby hooks you, and you want to share information, you want to be certain your information is accurate.
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Step 4
Using other people's information on the web sites is tricky. If they have not documented, their information may be inaccurate. Another thing to watch for in undocumented trees is the dates. Often you will find a grandmother born only five years before her grandchild. The best resources for verification is census reports. You can garner the information by going to a federal government site, or you can join a site which has procured the census reports.
