Genealogy Fast Track Using Decision Charts

Get on the fast track for your genealogy research using our decision charts. These charts make it easy to find the quickest way through the maze of genealogical information on the Internet. With so much information, it is easy to spend a lot of time going nowhere on your family history.

This site will show you the quickest ways to research the basics for your genealogy. The fastest way is not always the least expensive way. Nevertheless, we point you to free resources as well as free trials to minimize your costs.

Fast Track and Reference

Before getting to the first decision chart, there are other features that will appear along with the decision charts on most pages. These include:

  FastTrack When you see FastTrack appearing at the left, this points out one of the best resources for researching your genealogy.
  Reference When you see Reference appearing at the left, this points out a good reference for family history research.

Decision Chart

Here is the first decision chart to get you started. Happy hunting!

Have you interviewed as many family members as possible to gather family history? No - move right Interviewing family members is the best place to start researching your genealogy. If you have lost track of some family members, there are online tools to help you track them down. One of the best tools is Intelius. Click here to use Intelius.
Yes - move down
Have you requested birth and death records based on the information from family members No - move right Use family information to order birth and death records. Click here for Birth and Death Record Tips.
Yes - move down
Have you searched for family trees posted on the Internet to see if they can provide more hints about your genealogy? No - move right Search for family trees. Click here for Family Tree Tips.
Yes - move down
Search the Federal Census for names from family members, or names you found on birth or death records, and names you found in family trees. Click here for Federal Census Tips.

Advanced Research

This site is designed to provide the basics in researching your genealogy. It emphasizes the use of the Federal Census, Social Security Death Index, online family trees, and birth/death records. There are, of course, more sources of information. If you are looking for advice on additional sources, click here to go to Genealogy Search Advice. That site will provide you with customized research advice based on what you already know about your ancestors.

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Easiest way to search family trees

Use Active Searches. This allows you to search major sites by entering your information just one time. Also, this determines the best type of search for you at at each of the sites (all sites are not created equal).

Go to Family Tree Searcher.

Free research advice

Have you started your genealogy search, but need suggestions that will make your search on the Internet more productive?

Go to Genealogy Search Advice.

Get the best genealogy searches for Google by using your family tree

This free genealogy site will help you use Google for your research. It will create a series of different searches using tips or "tricks" that will likely improve your results.

Go to Genealogy Search Help for Google.