How does it work?

 

 

We have experience in hiring specialists and

we know what to expect from an attorney, accountant, or doctor,

but how does the process work with genealogists?

Our guide below can help you learn

how to get started and what to expect from our company. 

Initial Consultation

An initial consultation would assess:

  • what question(s) you have, or how we might help you form specific questions;
  • what information you might know or have documented that would be helpful in the process;
  • what your expectations are;
  • and what can we offer you.

Every case is unique and requires examination and clarification before the research starts. An initial consultation is free and all information and discussions remain confidential.

Formation of a Specific Question/Topic

Maybe you know exactly what you would like us to research for you, or maybe you need help forming a specific question/topic to be researched. You might be in possession of important old documents from your family, or just remember stories passed through the generations. We can help you learn what to look for when searching through the bundle of old papers in the attic, or how to ask an older relative questions that would yield crucial information for the research process. 

Agreement and Contract

Once we clarify the research topic and your expectations, we would examine your case to clarify which repositories we would need to consult for information, possible document and travel fees for physically obtaining information from archives, the estimated number of hours you would be billed for the project, and the estimated time needed for completion of the project based on our current workload. Following this, we send you a contract and privacy policy for you to review and sign. Once we receive the signed contract, privacy policy, and a retainer fee (a portion of the full amount due for the project), we would start the research for you. Full payment would be due upon completion of the project.

Starting the Research

Every problem is unique, as the history of every person and every family is unique. This also means that the research process is different in every case. We need to consult different archival materials, repositories, and secondary literature, even sometimes returning to the same source, collection, or repository as new discoveries elsewhere make the answers clearer. Even though we have decades of experience in historical research, there are always new discoveries to be made, so the time to complete the project might vary, especially with more complex questions. 

Visiting Archives

For every case we need to research relevant materials, checking them in different repositories. In some cases, on-site visits (even multiple visits) might be necessary to solve questions. At the current time, restrictions on physical access to archives might be in place, making the situation a bit more complex, or even limiting what information we can obtain for you. We will keep track of our research, noting especially travel times and document-retrieval fees and, in longer projects, inform you about the progress.

Research Results

Genealogical research is not just about finding new information, but also about the proper analysis of source materials and evaluation of evidence, all leading to a greater understanding and the formation of conclusions. We are experienced not only as genealogists but as scholars who are used to strict standards of academic research and scholarly publications.  

Research Results

 Research is an adventure and one cannot be sure of what the results will be. Sometimes research brings an abundance of discoveries, but sometimes the past is very silent. We extend our best efforts to answer research questions, but a negative result of the research is possible, though still important in helping us understand the past. A negative result in the research process means that there is no information available which can clarify or confirm an answer to your question, or perhaps just some particular aspects of the question. It’s important to note that when this occurs, the genealogist is paid for his meticulous research, and not the particular answers or lack thereof yielded by the research. 

 

Research Report

We will prepare a research report for you in electronic or paper form, as you choose. The document will provide you with clear citations and information about where you can go to find any piece of information contained in the report. We also provide you with information about which repositories and collections we checked to obtain either conclusive or negative results. We will also provide you with suggestions about possible research questions for the future so that you can consider learning more about the particular research question or related questions.   

Get started today!

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