FAQs

If you don’t find what you are looking for here, please do not hesitate to contact me.

How far back can you trace my family tree?

How far back your tree can be traced will depend on different factors, such as country, ethnicity and record availability. For the UK & Europe  it’s certainly possible to go back to when records began in the 1500-1600’s, some even further.

I have in the past had people requesting to go back centuries, unfortunately it doesn’t work like that.

Sometimes I can trace a peerage or noble branch back to the middle ages.

Can you find biological family?

Yes, I can do biological family investigations for adoptees or  investigate biological parents or grandparents. I can also try and trace living family members.

You must take a DNA test initially and I always advise to start with an ancestry DNA test (largest company). However there may be instances, especially with US based biological investigations, where little information was found, in which case I will also advise clients to test with 23andme. Both ancestry & 23andme dna data can be uploaded to myheritage, myheritage tends to be mostly European.

What are your resources?

I have access to many paid resources, libraries, national archives etc.

How long will research take?

Research times vary but I can give you a good idea with a free consultation. Normal turnaround is about 5-7days.

How much will it cost?

Please see my services page for idea of costs and please ask for a free consultation before booking.

How and when do I pay?

I will send you an electronic invoice to pay through paypal (no account is needed) and you can use a debit or credit card. This also gives you paypal’s buyer protection. Once payment is received, your booking will commence.

How do I order?

Please either email me for a free consultation or to book one of my services.

What information do you need?

For new trees, as much information as you can give me, I can start with very little. I will need names, dates & locations, preferably for parents,  grandparents and great grand parents if you can.

If I am to work on an existing tree, my preference is to work in ancestry.co.uk, due to their tree sharing facility.

Can I get copies of certificates or documents?

Where possible, either I can provide copies of certificates or if they need to be ordered, I can provide you with the information to do so (such as the record index).

Note; for recent or living family members, generally next of kin need to apply for a certificate.

What countries can you  research?

In general any country with records online; UK, Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Mexico….to name a few..

Please note that although some records are transcribed online into English, some will be in the native language. This may mean finding a genealogist that can search records in that language.

I can translate original records in all languages now with the dawn of new technology. I can search records (which is a different challenge) in French, Spanish & Italian.

Can you guarantee to find the answers…or the records I requested?

No a genealogist can’t guarantee answers. A lot will depend on the survival of records, the information recorded in those records, how much your ancestors moved around, and how common their names were. For genetic genealogy it depends on cousin matches.

If for some reason the record you need can not be found, you will still need to pay for the research time. However I will give as much information or find alternative ways to give you value for money.

I always say to my clients if I can’t find it, then no one else can.

What am I paying for when I book with you?

When you book, you are booking research time with an experienced professional genealogist. Who will work hard to find results and build your family tree.

• Expertise and Resources: Genealogists have access to and knowledge of a wide range of records, archives, and specialist databases.
• Contextual Understanding: We understand the social history of different periods and can provide insights that go beyond names and dates.
• Objective Insight: A professional genealogist offers a neutral, unbiased perspective — especially valuable when navigating emotional or complex family histories.
• Cost and Time Efficiency: Hiring a genealogist often saves money in the long run, reducing the need for multiple subscriptions or dead-end searches.
• Specialized Knowledge: Many genealogists, like myself, specialize in specific areas — providing valuable expertise tailored to your research needs.

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