Family Group Sheets
Earlier, I talked about ways to get all your documents in order. So, I thought I'd provide some resources for one of the fundamental organizational forms you'll need: the family group sheet. The other basic form is the pedigree chart.
Family group sheets organize each family unit (husband, wife, children) along with their vital statistics. Children are marked with ID numbers, to be cross-referenced with their own family groups (for adult, married children).
Even if you use a software program for your research, having family group sheets can help you keep your paper documents (clippings, certificates, photos) in order.
Below are a few places you can download a blank family group sheet for free. You'll need the Adobe Acrobat Reader (also free from Adobe). Just print out the form you prefer and fill in your family data. Some sheets are more detailed than others, so take a look at all 4 styles to see which one will suit your needs. I personally like the form from Ancestry.com.
Each form is basically the same, with vital statistics for husband and wife (sometimes with names of their parents). All children are listed with names and birth dates, though some forms have space for more details about each child. If children have families of their own, numbers of their family group sheets can be added for cross-reference.