Define the research problem
The researcher turns a broad client goal into one or more answerable questions with geographic, chronological, budget, and privacy boundaries.
Find and analyze records
Research may involve civil, church, census, probate, land, court, military, immigration, newspaper, archival, institutional, and community records depending on the question.
Correlate identities and relationships
Genealogists compare names, dates, places, associates, occupations, witnesses, households, migration patterns, and conflicting information across sources.
Use DNA when appropriate
Genetic genealogists may analyze match relationships, shared matches, cM amounts, segment data, and documentary trees while respecting consent and privacy limitations.
Communicate the evidence
Professional work usually ends in a research summary or report that identifies sources, explains reasoning, distinguishes facts from hypotheses, and recommends next steps.