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Start with yourself: Begin with yourself as the root of the tree and add your parents.

Add grandparents: Once you’ve added your parents, it’s time to add your grandparents on both sides of your family. Draw horizontal lines for your grandparents listed above and below your parents’ names.

Continue with great-grandparents and beyond: You can also add great-grandparents on both sides if you have their information. The process continues as far back as you want to go.

Differentiate and connect siblings: Add your siblings and continue to differentiate between siblings and half-siblings if necessary. Use dotted lines to represent marriage or adoption.

Include spouses and children: Add spouses and children for each person as you go along. For spouses, you can add their name and connect it to their partner with a horizontal line. For children, add their names under the parents' names with dotted lines.

Keep it organized: Keep the diagram organized with clear labels and a legible font.

Consider using software: Specialized software is available that can make the process less complicated in some cases. Some of the most popular family tree software include Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage.