Free DNA Match Research Log: A Practical Worksheet for Family Discovery
A simple system for turning DNA matches into research clues
A DNA match is a clue, not a complete answer. This free research log helps you record what you know, separate evidence from assumptions, and develop family-relationship hypotheses carefully.
1. Record the match
Match display name or initials: ______________________________
Testing company or platform: ______________________________
Date reviewed: ______________________________
Shared DNA (centimorgans): ______________________________
Number of segments, if shown: ______________________________
Largest segment, if shown: ______________________________
Known family surnames or locations: ______________________________
Do not publish another person's identifying information without permission. Keep private notes secure.
2. Record the source of every clue
Where did this clue come from? (DNA match page, shared match list, family tree, conversation, record, or another source.)
Source and link or reference: ______________________________
Date accessed: ______________________________
What does the source actually say? ______________________________
What does it not establish? ______________________________
3. Build a shared-match cluster
List other matches who appear to connect to the same possible family branch. Record shared DNA amounts separately for each comparison; do not assume that every shared match is related through the same ancestor.
Match A / shared DNA / possible branch: ______________________________
Match B / shared DNA / possible branch: ______________________________
Match C / shared DNA / possible branch: ______________________________
Names, locations, or ancestral couples appearing more than once: ______________________________
4. Keep hypotheses separate from facts
Confirmed evidence: What is directly supported by a reliable record or clearly documented DNA comparison?
Reported information: What has someone told you, and who provided it?
Working hypothesis: What relationship might explain the evidence, but is not yet proven?
Alternative explanation: What other family path could also explain the match?
5. Plan the next research step
One record or source to look for next: ______________________________
One question to ask respectfully: ______________________________
What result would support the hypothesis? ______________________________
What result would weaken or rule it out? ______________________________
Important DNA privacy reminders
Review the testing provider's current privacy, matching, sharing, and law-enforcement settings before uploading or sharing DNA data. A match's family tree may contain errors. Centimorgan ranges suggest possibilities, not a guaranteed relationship or identity.
Need help organizing a complex match network?
FYBF can help organize family-history clues, review research questions, and explain DNA match evidence. No specific identity or reunification result is guaranteed.
This worksheet is an educational aid. It is not a substitute for genetic counseling, legal advice, or the testing provider's privacy guidance.
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