How to Use FamilySearch for Free Genealogy Research

Research your family tree with billions of records — all 100% free, run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Create a free account
2.Enter your parents and grandparents
3.Check for existing records
4.Connect to the shared tree
5.Search records directly

Create a free account

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Go to familysearch.org and click "Create a free account." Enter your name and email. You do not need to be a church member — the site is open to everyone.

Enter your parents and grandparents

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Tap "Family Tree" then "Add Parent" or "Add Spouse" to start filling in what you know. Names, birth dates, places, and relationships are the key fields.

Check for existing records

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When you add a person, FamilySearch searches its database and shows matches in the "Record Hints" section. Each hint links to a historical record — click it to verify it's the same person and attach it to your tree.

Connect to the shared tree

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FamilySearch often finds that an ancestor is already in the shared tree from another relative's research. Tap "Attach" to merge your info with theirs — both sides benefit from shared sources.

Search records directly

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Use the "Search" menu to look through specific record collections — 1950 US Census, Ellis Island passenger lists, county marriage records. All downloads are free, forever.

You Did It!

You've completed: How to Use FamilySearch for Free Genealogy Research

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FamilySearch is the free alternative to Ancestry, run as a public service by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has billions of indexed records and a shared public family tree where everyone collaborates on the same tree.

Because the tree is shared, you can often find ancestors already researched by distant relatives — you just need to connect your branch to theirs.

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