You've caught “roots mania,” as Time magazine called the genealogy boom in a recent cover story, but you're not sure how to get started. Or maybe you've dabbled in researching your family history, but you're not certain you're doing it right. It might even be that you've gone a long way in your genealogy — only to hit the notorious “brick wall.” And so you're back to square one to try to find a fresh way to answers about your ancestors.

In any case, what you need is a plan. We've pulled together the best advice from our experts and come up with 10 simple steps to get you started on the right path to solving the puzzles of your past:

1. Gather what you already know about your family.