Range of Research Services

The type and style of a project or commission can vary depending on your needs, your budget, the available resources and on what the research reveals. If you are new to genealogy and the study of your family tree, one of the ‘Four Oaks Genealogy’ packages (see below), presenting family history for an agreed number of generations, might be a suitable starting point.

Types of research

Genealogical projects and commissions can range in size, from a small lookup for a particular resource to constructing a larger scale family history. The size and length of time required for each project can vary, depending on the complexity of the enquiry. The following are just a few examples of possible research projects:

• Finding a birth certificate
• Viewing local business directories
• Researching newspapers
• Locating army service records
• Researching education records
• Tracing a particular family tree
• Researching a house history

If you have conducted previous research yourself, this can be incorporated into your project or commission. However, good genealogical practice would mean that I would need to revisit the records myself. Whilst this might appear to be duplicating work, it would not necessarily take that long, but will ensure that the report is fully verified and referenced. Of course, if you have already obtained documents such as birth certificates, this could help cut down the overall cost.

Whatever the size of your commission, I can help guide you to the right conclusion by considering the best research options currently available.

See my case studies to provide you with a flavour of what is possible.

Costs

I keep you informed of progress at key stages of the project or commission, and would only proceed beyond your original remit with your consent.

Here are the main points relating to my charges:

• Costs are based on full hours, and there is a minimum of one hour for any commission.
• The total time calculated for any commission includes the time required for research and also the time for writing up the report.
• Please ask for detail of my current charges.
• I request half of the total cost of research plus any additional expenses to be paid in advance.
• The balance is due on completion of the commission, and the report will be submitted to the client on receipt of the balance.
• Additional charges include for example; obtaining GRO birth, marriage and death certificates. Other records may incur a charge, but this will be agreed with the client before they are obtained.
• If a visit to a record office or archive is required, then public transport costs will also be charged, travel time (if over two hours away) and costs for archive photo permits or photocopies.
• The report is supplied as a PDF at no extra charge to the client.
• If hard copies are required, this can be arranged on request and would incur charges such as printing, materials and postage.

See my Terms and Conditions

Caveat

I must stress that despite any genealogist’s best efforts, some ancestors simply remain elusive, and I cannot guarantee that records exist or will be found for every ancestor or event. Therefore the cost for research will be payable even if nothing is found.

If individuals or relevant records cannot be found for the Two, Three or Four Oaks packages, alternative arrangements agreed with the client will be made in order to make a suitable alternative family tree report.

What is guaranteed is that whatever the size of the commission, it will result in a methodically researched report, including all negative results from searches made. This will enable future researchers the benefit of knowing what work has been previously completed.

See my full Terms and Conditions

How to proceed

After your initial enquiry, and possibly further consultation, I will draw up a ‘free of charge’ plan for research, and provide you with the potential time scale and costs.

I need to see all previous relevant research and copies of documents either emailed or posted at your own expense.

This will ensure I can provide a satisfactory assessment, and therefore an accurate quote for the commission for the research and report.

Please contact me for further information.

Packages

No two family history research projects are the same and once we've discussed your requirements and expectations, I will offer you a package to best suit your needs. As a guide, here are my most popular packages.