Family History begins with the collecting of family documents and stories which creates a foundation for research that involves examining and evaluating historical records for evidence about ancestors and other relatives, their family ties, and the events that occurred in their lives.

As a rule, family historians begin with the present and work backward in time. Historical, social, and family context is essential to achieving the correct identification of individuals and relationships.  Reliable conclusions are based on the quality of sources (ideally original records), the information within those sources (preferably primary or firsthand information), and the evidence that can be drawn, directly or indirectly, from that information.