How to Start Your Genealogy Journey (Even If You're Adopted)

If you’ve ever wondered about where you come from, you’re not alone. Starting your genealogy journey doesn’t require a library of records or a DNA test on day one. It just takes curiosity and a starting point. Whether you’re looking into your biological roots, your adoptive family, or both, here’s the best advice I can give:

1. Start With What You Know

Write down your full name, birth details, and then do the same for your parents and grandparents—whatever info you’ve got. Don’t worry about getting it all perfect. Just get it down.

2. Talk to Family

Call your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles—anyone who might remember things. Ask questions. Names, places, dates, stories. People are walking archives. Don’t wait.

3. Collect the Paper Trail

Look for:

• Birth, marriage, and death certificates

• Old photos (especially the ones with writing on the back)

• Obituaries, letters, family bibles, military records

These little pieces help build the big picture.

4. Use the Right Tools

• FamilySearch.org is free and packed with records.

• Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, and FindMyPast are powerful (some require subscriptions).

• DNA testing (like AncestryDNA) can help confirm or discover relationships—especially useful if you’re adopted or have missing pieces.

5. If You’re Adopted:

You still get to do this. You still have a story.
Start with what’s available—your adoptive family’s history is still part of you.
If you want to find biological roots:

• Check your state’s adoption record access laws.

• Consider DNA testing—it’s often the key to finding biological relatives.

• Be ready for surprises, and take it step by step.

6. Take Notes, Save Sources

Document where every bit of info comes from. A scribbled note now saves headaches later. And don’t just copy public family trees—verify everything.

7. Be Patient, Be Curious

Genealogy isn’t a straight line. It’s a puzzle, a mystery, and sometimes a waiting game. But when it clicks? It’s powerful.