What Information Do I Need to Start a Family Search?
Starting your family search… and what to gather before beginning your journey
One of the most common questions is: “What do you need from me to begin?”
The answer is simple—you don’t need everything. You just need a starting point.
The Basics That Help Most
Known Names & Relationships
Full or partial names
Nicknames or aliases
Known or suspected relationships
Dates & Locations
Birth dates or estimated age ranges
Cities, counties, or states
Locations tied to key life events
Family Stories & Clues
Even small details can help:
Military service
Occupations
Regional ties
Cultural or ancestry hints
DNA Testing
If you’ve already tested, it can accelerate your case significantly.
Common platforms include:
AncestryDNA
23andMe
FamilyTreeDNA
Not sure where to test? Guidance is available to help you choose the best option.
What If I Don’t Have Much Info?
That’s more common than you think.
Many successful searches begin with:
No confirmed names
Limited history
A single DNA test
Missing pieces don’t stop the process—they guide it.
What Happens Next?
A research strategy is created
DNA matches are analyzed
Family trees are built and compared
Findings are verified before sharing