Extent and Cost of Research

Cost

Please recognize one simple truth - low-cost genealogy research usually results in low-quality results. This is not "marketing-speak", it is a basic fact.

Many genealogy researchers simply cut and paste what is out there on the internet, resulting in incorrect family trees. I do not see any sense in this.

I verify everything. If I cannot verify a family connection I will not include it in your tree. If a connection is not certain, I will mention that in the documents I provide with a notation such as "James Willoughby is likely to be the father of John but there is no documentary evidence." And then I will explain the circumstantial evidence that might make it likely.

Research Cost

$495 - 10 Hours of Research. This is a good place to start. I should be able to get all your family lines back to the late 1800s. From there we will be able to see what family lines can be researched ever further back. With a single 10-hour package, I will prepare a family tree for you using Ancestry.com and will provide a few simple family tree charts.

$1,950 - 40 Hours of Research. This provides much more extensive research. I should be able to get many of your family lines back to the early 1800s. I will prepare a document with your family information - the beginnings of your own family history book. I will be able to research local history books, newspapers and other sources for articles about the previous three or four generations of your family; find military records and more.

Over $1,950 - If you would like your family lines to go back into the 1700s, 1600s, 1500s, and even earlier the cost does of course increase. This depends on your family lines themselves - where your ancestors were from makes an enormous difference as to how far we can go back. Clients have invested $5,000 - $20,000 with me for researching their entire family histories and forming these histories into beautiful 400-500 page hardcover genealogies.

Where your family is from makes all the difference for how far back we can go:

England - often very possible to go into the 1500s.
Ireland/Scotland - 1800s/1700s
Germany, Poland, eastern Europe - 1800s
France - 1500s
Italy - 1700s

Most people discover a few lines of notable ancestors once you get back to the 1600s. These lines can often go back at least a couple more centuries.

Contact me to discuss your family research wants. I look forward to hearing from you!