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.

At a Glance

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.

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FamilySearch is the free alternative to Ancestry. It is run as a public service by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has billions of searchable records and one shared family tree that everyone adds to together.

Because the tree is shared, you can often find ancestors that other relatives have already researched. You just need to connect your branch to theirs.

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