Your DNA Results Are In—Now What?
- Julie Tonseth
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
What to Do First When You Get Your DNA Results
Getting your DNA results back can feel exciting — and a little overwhelming. Where do you even start? Here’s a step-by-step guide to make those first steps clear and productive.
1. Build Your Family Tree
While waiting for your results, create a family tree that includes your direct lineage back to at least your 2x great-grandparents. When your results are ready, attach your DNA test to yourself in that tree. This step is essential: it gives your matches something to connect to, and it sets you up for more accurate discoveries.
2. Label the Matches You Know
When you recognize a DNA match (a cousin, sibling, aunt, etc.), label them with the relationship on the match page. Make sure they fall into the right bucket — maternal or paternal and that the centimorgans are within range for that relationship. (Check this on the testing page or my preference, DNA Painter https://dnapainter.com/tools/sharedcmv4 ) On sites like AncestryDNA, you’ll see a “tree” icon on their profile once you’ve linked them. This labeling helps you double-check accuracy while building out your tree.
3. Start Grouping Unknown Matches
Pay special attention to unknown matches who are 2nd cousins or closer.
Group them with their shared matches.
Assign a color tag to each group so you can track them visually.
Look for public family trees in those groups — these can provide valuable context for where they might fit.
When you identify how a group is related (for example, all descending from your maternal grandmother’s sister), give that group a clear label so you’ll recognize it later.
4. Add New Connections to Your Tree
Once you’ve confirmed where people belong, start adding them to your family tree. This helps you see how clusters of DNA matches relate to each other and to you.
5. Handling “Mystery Groups” You Can’t Place
Sometimes you’ll find a person — or even a whole group — that you just can’t place. That’s where deeper detective work comes in:
First, group all their shared matches together. (Depending on the testing site, this could require a paid subscription. Or knowing someone with a subscription who is willing to help you. )
Check each person, one-by-one to see if anyone the group connects to your known family, even distantly (think: a 3x great-uncle). You just need 1 person to get started!
If no connections appear, create a new private DNA tree. Mirror the trees of these shared matches, adding their siblings, spouses, and extended relatives. Work your way down through the generations to see how they interconnect.
If, after all this, you still can’t make sense of the group, you may be dealing with an NPE (non-parental event) or an unknown adoption. These cases can be tricky — but don’t get discouraged.
When to Ask for Help
If you’ve built your trees, grouped your matches, and mirrored other trees but you’re still stumped, consider two options:
Join educational communities (Facebook groups, YouTube tutorials, etc.) for tips and case studies.
Reach out to a professional genetic genealogist who can untangle complex cases. (Like me!)
Final Thought
Your DNA results are a doorway into hidden family stories — but like any puzzle, you’ll make the most progress by starting with the corners and working your way in. Organize, group, and label carefully, and you’ll be surprised at how quickly the bigger picture begins to appear.
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