Genealogy Forms: Printable Family History Binder Kit
These printable genealogy forms turn a ring binder into a working family history file. The kit has a cover, five section dividers and 16 fillable forms, from an ancestor profile and family group sheet to a research log and a census record. Every page comes in A4 and US Letter with a wide margin for a hole punch. You can type on screen or print and write by hand. The kit costs £55 and downloads as soon as your payment is confirmed.
The genealogy forms in the kit
| Form | What it records |
|---|---|
| Cover and five section dividers | Ancestors, Family Groups, Records and Sources, Research, and Photographs and Stories |
| Index of people | Everyone in the binder with their number, dates and page |
| Ancestor profile | One person’s life events, parents, spouses, children, addresses and occupations, with space for a photograph |
| Pedigree chart | Four generations, numbered so that each chart links to the next |
| Family group record | A couple, their parents, their marriage and up to 12 children |
| Life timeline | One person’s life in date order, with places and sources |
| Census and register record | One household in a census or register, such as the 1921 Census or the 1939 Register |
| Documents and sources | Certificates and papers you hold, and where the originals are kept |
| Research plan | One question, what you already know and the sources still to check |
| Research log | Every search, including the ones that found nothing |
| Correspondence log | Letters and emails to archives, churches and relatives, with replies and costs |
| Military service record | Service number, units, ranks, medals and where the records are held |
| Migration and naturalisation | Departure, route, arrival, registration and citizenship |
| Grave and memorial record | Cemetery, plot, the inscription line by line and two photographs |
| Photograph record | Who, where and when, and who holds the original |
| Talking to a relative | Seven questions for a family conversation, with space for the answers |
| Ancestor from Poland | Spellings, parish, district, the region at the time and a checklist of records |
A short guide explains how to set up the binder, number your ancestors and print at the right size.
Why keep a family history binder?
Online family trees are quick to build, but they rarely show where each fact came from or which searches have already failed. A binder of genealogy worksheets keeps the evidence next to the conclusion. When a relative asks how you know that great-grandfather was born in 1889, the census record and the research log answer the question.
A binder also travels well. You can take it to a record office, a family gathering or a visit to an older relative, and add notes on the spot.
How to organise your genealogy binder
- Number each person. You are number 1, your father 2 and your mother 3. Anyone’s father is twice their number and their mother twice plus one. Use the same number on every form.
- Give each ancestor a profile. File it in the Ancestors section, with a timeline and any military or migration sheet behind it.
- Keep couples together. Family group records and pedigree charts go in the Family Groups section.
- File the evidence. Census records, document lists and grave records go in Records and Sources.
- Record your searches. Research plans, logs and letters go in the Research section, so you never repeat a search.
If you are just starting, our guides to the UK census and the 1939 Register and to searching the GRO index and FreeBMD show where the first records usually come from.
Printing the forms
- Choose the A4 folder in the UK, Ireland, Europe and Australia, and the US Letter folder in the United States and Canada.
- Print at “Actual size”. The left margin leaves room for a two-hole or three-hole punch.
- Print as many copies of each form as you need for your own family. You will usually want several ancestor profiles, family group records and research logs.
Instant download
Buy the family history binder kit - £55
Enter your name and email address and continue to Stripe to pay £55. After payment you are returned to a page with your download link, and we email the same link to you. The link works for 30 days.
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The files are licensed for your own family research. Because the download starts straight away, the 14-day cancellation period does not apply once the link is provided.
Frequently asked questions
Are these genealogy forms fillable?
Yes. Each form has fillable fields you can type into in Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple Preview or Microsoft Edge. You can also print them blank and write by hand.
Can I print the forms more than once?
Yes. Every form is a separate PDF, so you can print as many copies as your research needs.
Do I need a particular binder?
No. Any A4 or US Letter ring binder works. The forms leave a wide left margin for the holes.
Are the forms only for Polish ancestors?
No. The forms work for any family. One sheet, Ancestor from Poland, helps families whose records lead back to Poland.
Can I share the files with relatives?
You can print copies for yourself and your relatives. Please do not share the files publicly or resell them.