A genealogy research plan template for one clear question

The short answer

A genealogy research plan states one question, summarizes the evidence already found and lists the sources to check next in priority order. A research log records what you actually searched and found. Keep both together, and revise the plan when new evidence changes the question.

You can start with a notebook or an ordinary document. The useful part is deciding what a search could establish before opening another database. “Find more ancestors” is too broad to evaluate; “Who were this person's parents?” can become a sequence of testable steps.

Copy this free genealogy research plan template

Use one copy for each question. This is a text template you can copy from this page, not a downloadable PDF.

• Question: Which person, event or relationship am I trying to establish?
• Identity: What names, places, dates and relatives distinguish the right person?
• Known evidence: Which sources support each fact? Include source references.
• Unverified clues: What have relatives, hints or online trees suggested without supporting records?
• Conflicts: Which details disagree, and what might explain the difference?
• Next source: What collection or record will I check first, and why?
• Coverage and access: Does it cover the relevant place and period? Can I access the record itself?
• Search approach: Which names, variants, filters or image ranges will I use?
• Possible outcomes: What would a match, no match or conflicting record change?
• Review point: What will make me revise the plan or pause this question?

For recording completed searches, use the separate genealogy research log template. The free Genealogy Starter Tools provide printable research-log, pedigree and source sheets; they are not a downloadable version of every template on this page.

Worked example: identify a bride's parents

The people and situation below are fictional teaching examples, not verified genealogical findings.

Question: Who were the parents of Anna Novak, believed to have married Joseph Miller in Cleveland around 1910?

Starting evidence: A family photograph has a handwritten “Anna and Joseph, 1910” caption. Record who supplied the photograph and when. The caption is a clue; it does not establish the marriage date or place.

Identity checks: Note approximate age, known addresses, siblings and name variants. Avoid joining records solely because the names match.

First search: Check whether marriage records for the relevant jurisdiction and years survive and are accessible. Search a reasonable date range and inspect the original image when available. Record the collection, document reference and what it actually states.

Second search: Use details from the marriage record to select the next source. If parents are named, compare independent records for the same person. If no parents are named, witnesses, addresses or a religious institution may suggest a useful lead.

If nothing appears: Log the exact search and check collection coverage, surname variants and whether images can be browsed beyond the index. “No indexed result” does not establish that no marriage occurred.

Review point: After these searches, write what is supported, what conflicts and which source could resolve the remaining gap. Do not turn a plausible relationship into a confirmed one simply to complete the chart.

Choose sources by the question they can answer

A long list of websites is not a research plan. Beside each proposed source, write one sentence explaining what you expect it to contribute. A census may help connect a household across time; a probate file may name relationships; a church register may provide a place or event absent from an index. Availability and detail vary.

Check historical boundaries and record-keeping jurisdictions before assuming a collection covers the family. Keep copied statements from online trees separate from the records that support them. See how to cite genealogy sources for a way to make your evidence retrievable.

Turn the plan into a manageable session

1. Read the question and your last completed log entry.
2. Choose one accessible source from the plan.
3. Search and record both useful results and unsuccessful attempts.
4. Save the source with its citation and the relevant person's identity.
5. Write the next action before closing the session.

If a discovery opens a different question, capture it separately. You can return to it without abandoning the original investigation midway through a search.

When a printable research system helps

Need charts and trackers together? Compare The Ancestor File, a paid digital printable. See its exact contents and formats before buying. No physical binder is shipped.

For filing paper records, read how to build a family history binder. For a broader workflow, use the genealogy organization guide.

Questions about research plans

Is a research plan the same as a research log?

No. The plan describes intended searches and why they matter. The log records completed searches, results and citations. A result in the log may change the next step in the plan.

How many questions should one plan contain?

Begin with one focused question. Related subquestions may emerge, but keep their evidence and conclusions distinguishable. A smaller plan is easier to review when a record contradicts an assumption.

What if I cannot access the next record?

Note the access limitation. Look for an authorized alternative, an archive enquiry or a different source that could address the question. Do not describe an inaccessible record as searched.

Further guidance

FamilySearch's A Research Plan in Action demonstrates research planning. The copyable template and fictional example above are Wiserta editorial materials. FamilySearch does not endorse Wiserta products.