Family Research Services
Discover the Stories Behind Your Family Tree
Family research is more than collecting names and dates. It’s about understanding the people, places, and events that shaped your ancestors’ lives. Through careful, evidence-based research, I help you move beyond online hints and fragmented notes to clear, documented family history you can trust and share.
Whether you’re starting from scratch, stuck on a specific problem, or ready for a deeper dive into a particular family line, I’ll work with you to define your goals and create a plan that fits your need
Is Family Research Right for You?
This service is a good fit if you:
- Have done some research but feel stuck or unsure what to do next
- Want a professional to verify and build on your existing work
- Need help tracing a specific family line, surname, or immigrant ancestor
- Would like a written account or report you can share with relatives
- Prefer to have a professional handle the digging while you enjoy the results
If you’re not sure where you fall, we can talk through your situation in a free consultation.
Common Family Research Projects
Every project is unique, but common types of family research include:
- Building or extending family trees – tracing parents, grandparents, and earlier generations
- Brick wall problem-solving – tackling long-standing questions about identity, relationships, or origins
- Place-focused research – digging into families in specific locations, such as North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, or Pennsylvania
- Lineage-focused projects – following a particular surname or ancestral line over time
- Family story verification – separating fact from family legend using records and context
When appropriate, I can also incorporate DNA results in collaboration with traditional records. For more DNA-specific work, see the Genetic Genealogy & DNA Analysis page.
How a Family Research Project Works
Every project follows a structured process so you always know what to expect:
- Initial Consultation
We begin with a free consultation to discuss your goals, what you already know, any documents you’ve gathered, and your priorities. This helps determine the best starting point and scope. - Proposal & Agreement
Based on our communication, I provide an estimate of time and focus areas. Once you approve the plan, I provide a contract and invoice for the initial retainer. - Research & Documentation
I conduct research in appropriate record sets, keeping track of both positive and negative findings. Throughout the process, I focus on evidence, context, and correlation rather than relying on unsourced trees or hints. - Report & Next Steps
At the conclusion of the agreed work, you receive a written report summarizing what was done, what was found, and how the evidence fits together. I also highlight recommended next steps, whether for additional research or future projects.
What You’ll Receive
While every project is customized, most family research projects include:
- A clearly written research report explaining the work performed
- Source citations for each record consulted
- Digital copies or transcripts of key documents, where available
- Charts, trees, or timelines when helpful for understanding relationships
- A summary of conclusions and remaining open questions
- Recommendations for future research
You’re welcome to share these materials with family members, include them in your own files, or use them as a foundation for further projects.
Pricing & Project Sizes
Family research can be structured as a focused, short-term project or as a longer, multi-phase engagement. I offer both hourly work and packages so we can match the approach to your goals and budget.
For current rates and package options, please see the Pricing page. During our initial consultation, I’ll recommend a starting scope that makes sense for your specific question and timeline.
Ready to Explore Your Family’s Story?
/If you’re ready to move beyond scattered records and online hints, I’d be happy to help. We’ll start with a conversation about your goals, existing information, and the kinds of answers you hope to find.