So I've managed to peak your interest in your family history and you've decided to dive into your past. Congratulations!

Start with what you know. Write down everything you already know about your family. You likely won't know too many dates off the top of your head, but even a collection of names can be a good starting point. Take note of birth days, even if you don't know the actual year a person was born. Whatever you have.

At first, you don't necessarily need a genealogy software program. A set of pedigree charts should do you just fine. You can download a free chart to print out from Ancestry.com You'll need Adobe Acrobat to read this file.

These simple charts can help you build a good framework for your future research. A pedigree chart is specifically designed for you to record your direct ancestors (meaning parents, grand-parents, great-grand-parents etc.) There isn't space for uncles, aunts or cousins. You can still jot notes until you have a more comprehensive system in place.

Once you've recorded all the details you personally know, get in touch with any older relatives that you are close to. See who has birth certificates or obituary notices that you can take a look at. Borrow old photos and get them scanned. You can keep colour copies in your files, and return the originals.

Document your sources with every fact you find. It may seem unnecessary now, but 6 months from now when you're looking someone up, you won't be able to remember which great-aunt had that huge collection of newspaper obituary records. Here is a detailed article on the proper way to cite your sources.

Once you've exhausted all those relatives you have contact with, then it's time to do the serious research. If you have a major library in your area, see what genealogical records they have access to. Also, start surfing online for the countless genealogy databases that allow you to search for free.

Set up a few file folders to help keep your papers and charts organized. It's amazing how quickly notes and printouts can accumulate. Keep them organized by either record type or family groups.

Most importantly, don't let yourself get overwhelmed. Take each relative and connection in turn, and keep focused. Trying to look into 5 generations of ancestors at once will make you crazy. Trust me, I speak from experience. Take it one step at a time, and don't think about the size of the task ahead.