Genetic Genealogy & DNA Analysis

Making Sense of Your DNA Results

DNA testing has opened up powerful new possibilities in genealogy—but on its own, a test result can raise as many questions as it answers. Genetic genealogy is the process of interpreting DNA evidence alongside traditional records to clarify relationships, confirm lines of descent, and support careful genealogical conclusions.

I use your DNA results in combination with documentary research to help you move from a confusing list of matches to a clearer understanding of how those people fit into your family story.

Is Genetic Genealogy Right for You?

This service is a good fit if you:

• Have tested with AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA, or another company and aren’t sure what the results really mean
• Want to use DNA to confirm or refine your existing family tree
• Are facing an unknown parentage, adoption, or misattributed parentage situation and want a careful, methodical approach
• Are trying to understand how specific DNA matches connect to you and your known lines
• Prefer to have a professional analyze and explain the evidence while you retain control over what to do with the results

If you’re unsure whether your question is appropriate for DNA, we can talk through that in a free consultation before you commit to a project.

Common Genetic Genealogy Projects

Genetic genealogy can support many different types of research questions. Some examples include:

• Confirming relationships and family lines
  Using DNA to support documentary evidence for parent–child relationships, sibling groups, and ancestral lines.
• Interpreting and organizing match lists
  Grouping DNA matches into clusters, identifying shared ancestors, and determining which lines are most likely associated with a particular brick wall.
• Unknown parentage and unexpected results
  Carefully analyzing matches and building working trees to explore questions of unknown parents, grandparents, or other close relatives, when appropriate and desired.
• Correlating DNA with paper records
  Combining genetic evidence with traditional sources (census, vital, probate, land, church, etc.) to build a more complete and coherent picture.
• Supporting traditional research projects
  Adding DNA analysis as one layer of evidence in broader family research, particularly where records are sparse or conflicting.

Some questions may not be answerable with DNA alone, but DNA often provides valuable clues or additional support alongside documentary research.

Understanding the Possibilities and Limits

Genetic genealogy is a powerful tool, but it has real limits. Before we begin, we’ll talk about what is and is not realistic in your situation.

In general:

• DNA can suggest and support relationships; it rarely “proves” them in isolation.
• Matches depend on who has tested; sometimes key individuals simply aren’t in the databases.
• Some questions may remain partially answered, especially in cases involving endogamy, pedigree collapse, or very small segments.

My goal is always to:

• Be clear about what the evidence supports,
• Explain areas of uncertainty, and
• Provide thoughtful recommendations for next steps—whether that includes additional testing, more documentary research, or accepting that some questions may not yet have enough evidence.

How a Genetic Genealogy Project Works

Initial Consultation
We begin with a conversation about your goals, what you already know, and what DNA tests (if any) you or your relatives have taken. If you haven’t tested yet, we may discuss which test options are most suitable for your question.

Access to DNA Results & Background Information
You provide access to your DNA results (and, if applicable, results from close relatives), along with any relevant family tree information or documents you already have.

Analysis & Research
I review your DNA matches, evaluate shared segments where appropriate, and group matches into clusters. I then compare these findings with traditional records and any existing trees to identify likely connections and hypotheses.

Reporting & Discussion
You receive a written summary explaining the analysis, what the DNA suggests about your question, how it correlates with documentary evidence, and what uncertainties remain. We can also schedule time to walk through the findings together and discuss recommended next steps.

What You’ll Receive

Most genetic genealogy projects include:

• A written summary explaining the question, methods, and findings
• A clear description of key DNA matches used in the analysis
• Visual aids where helpful (such as simple charts, cluster overviews, or relationship diagrams)
• Discussion of how the DNA evidence supports or challenges existing assumptions
• A list of suggested next steps, which may include additional testing, contacting specific matches, or further document-based research

You can keep these materials for your own files, share them with family members, or use them as a foundation for future projects.

Privacy, Ethics, and Sensitive Results

DNA testing can reveal unexpected information about relationships, identity, and family history. I take these possibilities seriously.

As part of this service:

• We’ll discuss your comfort level and boundaries before beginning.
• I will not contact your DNA matches without your explicit permission.
• Sensitive discoveries—such as misattributed parentage or unexpected relationships—will be handled with care and discretion.
• You remain in control of how results are shared and with whom.

If a question seems especially sensitive or complex, we may choose to break the work into stages so you can decide how and whether to proceed as more information emerges.

Pricing & Project Sizes

Genetic genealogy projects vary widely in scope, from focused analysis of a specific set of matches to longer-term work on complex relationship questions. I offer both hourly work and project-based options depending on your needs.

For current rates and packages, please see the Pricing page. During our initial consultation, we’ll discuss what makes sense for your particular question and comfort level.

Ready to Understand What Your DNA Is Telling You?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your DNA results or wondering whether genetic genealogy can help with a specific question, I’d be happy to talk it through with you. We’ll look at your goals, your test results, and the kinds of answers you hope to find, and then decide together on a sensible next step.