- Can I get further copies of my report?
- Can you trace forwards in time as well as back?
- Can you trace the ancestry of someone who was adopted?
- Do you just follow back one surname at a time?
- How far back will you go within a single programme?
- How long does a research programme take?
- How much detail will I discover?
- Should I choose the Standard or the Limited Programme?
- What happens if I want more research?
- What happens if research is unsuccessful?
- What will I get at the end of research?
Can I get further copies of my report?
We can supply further CD or paper copies of our reports for other members of the family, and these make popular Christmas gifts. The standard charge for a paper copy report is £25 and for CD £10
Can you trace forwards in time as well as back?
In most cases we will be tracing back in time to look for ancestors, but the Standard Research Programme can also be used to look for descendants. In general, working forwards and sidewards in time is more time-consuming, as there are more unknown factors involved.
Can you trace the ancestry of someone who was adopted?
In England and Wales, a formal Register of Adoption has been kept since 1927. The Children's Act of 1975 allows an adopted person, if over 18, to apply for their original birth certificate. No one else can do this for them. The certificate enables research to begin on tracing the birth family. In Scotland, adoption has been legally recognised since 1930 and information is supplied to the adopted person, if over 17.
Do you just follow back one surname at a time?
The most efficient method in ancestry research, and the one preferred by most of our clients, is to follow a single surname line back through the generations from son to father to grandfather and so on. However, if you particularly wish us to divide a research programme (this applies to the Standard Programme only) we can work on two surnames at the same time. This will of course limit the number of generations we are likely to discover on each line.
How far back will you go within a single programme?
This is the most common question and the most difficult to answer, for every case is unique, and no reputable genealogist will predict the outcome of research. As a rough guide for UK research, if we are beginning at around 1900, and if research proceeds smoothly, we would expect to discover at least three or four further generations within our Standard Research Programme. However, there are many variable factors: some families stayed in the same country parish for generations, others moved around frequently in densely populated cities. Some left better ‘paper trails’ than others. We just do not know what we will find until we start exploring.
How long does a research programme take?
Good research is a painstaking process. The average time taken to complete a Standard Research Programme is three months, but this will vary according to where the records are held. Some archives close for stocktaking or refurbishment, and this can cause delays. We may also need to look at documents in several different archives and this too can mean that research moves more slowly.
How much detail will I discover?
Our usual priority is
to research as many generations as
possible, since this is what most of
our customers
want, but along the way we always
note details of brothers and sisters
and occupations wherever we can
discover them. This not only builds
up a more interesting picture of the
family but can also provide vital
clues (such as naming patterns) to
earlier generations.
We do not routinely look for death
certificates in English research, as
this can be very time-consuming and
does not usually help to establish
earlier generations.
If you have a particular interest
(such as an ancestor’s military
service, or a particular date of
death) please make this clear at the
outset and we will do our best to
find out what you want to know.
Should I choose the Standard or the Basic Research Programme?
What happens if I want more research?
At the end of every research programme, you will receive a detailed report accompanied (in most cases) by a family tree chart. If further research is feasible, at the end of the report we make specific recommendations as to what could be done next. You can then choose to commission a further research programme if you wish.
What happens if research is unsuccessful?
We only carry out research where there is a reasonable chance of success. If you are unsure about this, try our Free Assessment Service. However, since the success of research depends on many factors beyond our control, there will be cases where the results may not be as positive as we would all wish for. Since our charges are for our time, we do not usually give refunds in such instances. If we reach a point at which we believe further research is unlikely to bear fruit, and this is agreed with our client, we are always happy to refund any unspent portion of the research programme.
What will I get at the end of research?
At the end of every research programme, we provide
- Detailed narrative Genealogy report, describing and analysing the results in full either on paper in a book format and/or on CD.
- Pedigree (Family Tree) Chart, usually A4 on high quality paper. A0 and A1 charts can be purchased as an option.
- Additional specific tree lines (if required)
- Any certificates, census returns etc which we acquired during the course of the research
All of the above is inclusive of our hourly rate, any additional source notes are the property of the client and will also be sent with the above.