1. Full name (including maiden names for women)

2. Approximate dates for vital events (birth, death, marriage, residence, etc.)

3. Locations for vital events — location is the key element in genealogy, since it indicates where vital records are today

Step 2:  Select one surname/family name to begin
Select a single surname, individual, or family with which to begin. Focusing your family search helps keep your research on track and reduces the chance of missing important details due to sensory overload. As much as you might want to, you can't do it all at once.

Step 3: Gather family records and information
Gather together everything you have - papers, photos, documents, and family heirlooms. Rummage through your attic or basement, the filing cabinet, the back of the closet.... Then check with your relatives to see if they have any family documents they are willing to share. Clues to your family history might be found on the backs of old photographs, in the family bible, or even on a postcard. If your relative is uneasy with lending an original, offer to have copies made.

Step 4: Record Record, Record! 
Write down everything you have learned from your family and begin to enter the information in a pedigree or family tree chart (easy to find free forms on the web). These charts provide an at-a-glance overview of your family, making it easy to track your research progress.  Make sure you continue to document everything, including taking pictures. You never know when you might need it.  There are several brands of software for tracking your research, and some are free! 

Step 5: Contact and interview relatives
Set aside some time to interview your relatives. Start with your parents and then move on from there. Try to collect stories, not just names and dates, and be sure to ask open-ended questions. Many people skip this step or have very informal interviews, but this is probably the most important step in researching your family history. Tip: Use a tape recorder to keep up in the interview; you never know what you'll miss when taking notes by hand or computer!

Step 6: Search the census
Ahhh, the national census...Census records contain wonderful information for genealogists including names, ages, occupation and ethnic background. Some census records for certain countries and time periods may contain additional information including place of birth, property value, marriage information, education level, birthplace of parents, relationships between individuals and more. The census records available for your research will vary by country and time period.  Census records can be researched online, but a subscription to the web site may be required.  Other options for researching the Census is the National Archives, Family History Centers, and local libraries.  

Step 7: Check local government agencies, libraries, and local societies
Public records, local libraries and genealogical/historical societies are great sources of information.  There is always a chance you are not the first to start documenting your ancestry; libraries and local societies may have just what you need!  Local government agencies have everything from birth, marriage, and death records to land deeds.  All of which are ways to get a little closer in learning about your family roots.  Family History Centers also have a great amount of resources that may help you in your search.

Step 8: Don't forget the Internet!
From cemetery transcriptions to census records, millions of genealogy resources have been posted online in recent years, making the Internet a popular first stop in researching family roots.  Try a simple Internet search of your ancestors or a specific town and see what comes up!  There are also several web sites just for genealogy, some have fees but you'll be surprised how much free information is on the World Wide Web!  

Step 9: Organize your information
Organize you information - take notes, make photocopies, etc. Make sure you save and date everything!  It's best to do this at the start than trying to organize all of your data after you have gained data on several members of your family tree.