Frequently Asked Questions

It is important to be aware that our research may uncover results which are unexpected. Skeletons in the Closet so to speak. Confidentiality and discretion is assured at all times.

I am committed to providing a quality and efficient service. Please note that l am charging you for my time and any expenses incurred during research. Whilst l cannot guarantee that l will discover all details about your ancestors, l do guarantee that l will use my time as efficiently and effectively as possible. I will utilise my expertise to source all possible records. I will provide documentation to verify all of these sources and trust that you will be satisfied with my efforts.

Every research project is different and depends on a variety of factors including the time period being researched, the area your ancestors lived and availability of records and documents. Once your booking details have been received you will receive an initial time expectation which will be updated during the course of the research once further information is to hand.

Our research service is charged on an hourly basely and will align with the goals outlined in the research plan created before we commence. This plan will allow us to review any previous research, identify and locate records, search for family or related persons, write a detailed report and put together the acquired documentation. We’ll work to determine the most effective and efficient use of our research time and keep you up to date during the course of the project.

When you make book a package with us, we will start with a specific research goal. No one knows your family better than you. We'll start with you telling us what you already know and what you want to discover. The more information you can provide the better. Pieces of information that could seem irrelevant could end up being a key piece in the puzzle. You'll receive an Information Gathering Questionnaire to complete - so get thinking and give as much detail as you can.

No professional Family Historian can guarantee results. Brick walls are an unfortunate part of our research. Investigation still takes time and this is what you are paying for - time and expertise. Including negative findings and unsuccessful searches. After an initial period of research, if it appears I am unable to locate the relevant records and information to meet your expected outcome, I will contact you to discuss options for proceeding. This may include taking a different direction with your research or refunding the remaining unused research hours.