01
Submit Your Request
Complete the Family History Research Request and share whatever you already know. Approximate dates, uncertain spellings, and incomplete family stories are welcome.
Research Fees
Clear Scope. No Surprise Fees.
Every request begins with a complimentary scope review. If the project is a fit, research begins with a two-hour block for $150. Additional research is $75 per hour and is performed only with your approval.
A Thoughtful Start
Every project begins with a complimentary scope review.
Submitting a research request creates no financial obligation. The scope review assesses the information, family stories, and documents you provide to determine whether the project appears viable and where the strongest initial leads may lie. It does not include record research.
02
Receive a Proposed Scope
The scope review evaluates your request and identifies the strongest initial leads. It is an assessment, not record research—no archival searching is performed at this stage.
03
Approve Before Research Begins
No paid research begins until the scope and fee have been clearly explained and approved by you.
Initial Engagement
$150
Two-Hour Initial Research Block
A focused starting point for research, analysis, and documentation.
What May Be Included
- Searching genealogical and historical records
- Reviewing names, dates, places, and uploaded documents
- Evaluating conflicting information and surname variations
- Documenting searches and findings
- Preparing a written research summary
- Recommending appropriate next steps
The fee covers professional research time and documentation, not a guaranteed discovery.
What You Receive
Every engagement produces a documented result.
Research Performed
A clear account of the records, databases, and sources reviewed.
Findings
An explanation of relevant evidence and conclusions located during the authorized time.
Negative Searches
Documentation of important searches that did not produce a result.
Next Steps
An honest recommendation regarding whether further research is likely to be productive.
Continuing the Work
Continue only if it makes sense.
$75 per hour
At the end of the initial research block, you may stop or authorize additional work. No additional time is billed without your approval.
- Time is tracked in 15-minute increments.
- Additional work is generally authorized in two-hour blocks.
- There are no automatic renewals.
- Research stops when the authorized time is exhausted.
Transparency
How time and costs are handled
What counts as research time
Research time may include record searching, document analysis, evaluation of conflicting evidence, archive correspondence, source citation, client communication, and preparation of written findings.
Careful analysis and documentation are part of the research—not administrative extras.
Outside expenses
Certified records, archive fees, foreign researchers, professional translation, postage, travel, or other third-party costs are separate from the hourly rate.
- Quoted separately
- Approved before being incurred
- Billed at actual cost
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about fees and scope
Begin with what you know.
You do not need a completed family tree or perfect records. A name, a town, a photograph, or a remembered family story may be enough to begin.