Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering professional genealogy research, these are some of the questions I am most often asked about scope, costs, timescales, records, and what you can expect from the finished work.
Why Hire?
What does a professional genealogist do?
A professional genealogist researches family, property, and historical records to answer specific questions, verify family lines, resolve conflicting evidence, and present the findings in a clear, fully referenced format.
Why should I hire a professional genealogist?
A professional genealogist can save you time, help you avoid common mistakes, and bring experience in archives, record systems, handwriting, and evidential analysis. This is especially helpful where online trees conflict, records are difficult to interpret, or research has reached a standstill.
Can you verify my existing family tree?
Yes. I can review an existing tree and assess whether the line is properly supported by documentary evidence. This can help identify errors, assumptions, or places where further research is needed.
Can you help if my tree is partly done already?
Yes. Many clients come to me with research already underway. I can work from what you already have, check it carefully, and either strengthen it or continue from the point where you became unsure.
Can you research just one branch of my family?
Yes. Research can focus on a single surname line, a maternal or paternal branch, one grandparent line, or a specific question within the wider tree.
Can you help with a family mystery or conflicting information?
Yes. This is often where professional research is most useful. If records conflict, identities are unclear, or family stories need to be tested against the evidence, I can assess the records and explain what can and cannot be concluded.
Costs, timescales and process
How much does genealogy research cost?
Costs depend on the scope of the work, the complexity of the problem, the records involved, and whether archive research is needed. Some projects suit a fixed package, while others are better approached through a bespoke proposal or time block.
Do you offer fixed packages or hourly research?
Yes. Some projects fit neatly into a package, while others are better handled through a focused time block or a bespoke proposal. This depends on the nature of the research and how clearly the scope can be defined at the outset.
How long does genealogy research take?
That depends on the research question, the records available, and whether archive visits or more complex analysis are required. Some focused projects can be completed fairly quickly, while deeper multi-generation research may take longer.
What happens before research begins?
Research begins with a discussion of your aims, the information you already hold, and the most suitable way to approach the work. I then provide a proposal before any research begins, so the scope and cost are clear from the start.
Do I need to know exactly what I want before getting in touch?
No. Many clients are not quite sure whether they need verification, expansion, a focused investigation, or a house history. That can usually be clarified through an initial discussion.
What information should I send before hiring a genealogist?
Anything you already have can be useful, including names, dates, places, certificates, photographs, family stories, tree printouts, or previous research notes. Even small details can help provide a useful starting point.
What you receive
What will I receive at the end of the research?
Depending on the scope of the project, you may receive a fully referenced report of findings, copies of relevant record images, a pedigree or family tree chart where appropriate, and suggestions for further research.
What is included in a genealogy research report?
A research report usually explains the question investigated, the records consulted, the evidence found, how the conclusions were reached, and any unresolved points or recommendations for next steps.
Will the report include references?
Yes. My reports are fully referenced so that the evidence is clear, transparent, and properly supported.
Do you provide family tree charts?
Yes, where appropriate. Some projects include a chart as part of the final deliverable, while others are more report-led depending on the nature of the work.
Do you provide copies of certificates and records?
Digital copies of relevant record images can usually be included where available and appropriate. In some cases, record purchases may need to be charged separately depending on the source.
Can I request a narrative family history report?
Yes. Where appropriate, I can provide a more detailed narrative-style report that places the findings into a broader family and historical context.
Research difficulties and missing records
What happens if there are gaps in the records?
Gaps in the records are very common in family history research. Where key records do not survive, it is often still possible to build a strong picture using alternative sources such as parish records, probate, newspapers, land records, directories, occupational material, and local archives.
Can you help if online trees disagree?
Yes. One of the main reasons people come to me is because online trees conflict or seem to repeat the same unsourced assumptions. I work from documentary evidence and explain clearly what is supported, what is uncertain, and what should be treated with caution.
Can you work with difficult handwriting or older records?
Yes. Older records often require experience in reading difficult handwriting, understanding historical terminology, and interpreting records in their proper context.
Can you research families before civil registration or before the census?
Yes, although the approach is different. Earlier research often relies more heavily on parish registers, bishop’s transcripts, probate, land, tax, and other locally held records.
Can every family line be proved with certainty?
Not always. Some lines can be proved very strongly, while others remain less certain because the records are incomplete, ambiguous, or missing. Where that happens, I make those distinctions clear rather than overstating the evidence.
North East, Scottish and house history research
Do you specialise in North East family history research?
Yes. I undertake research across Newcastle, Northumberland, County Durham and North Tyneside, drawing on local archive familiarity, regional history, and original records wherever possible.
Do you specialise in Scottish genealogy?
Yes. Scottish research has its own distinct legal, ecclesiastical, and archival systems, and I approach it with that specific framework in mind.
What records are used in Scottish genealogy research?
Depending on the period and problem, Scottish research may involve statutory registers, Old Parish Registers, census returns, kirk session records, valuation rolls, wills and testaments, sasines, and other archival material.
Can you research beyond Scotland and the North East?
Yes, where appropriate. I also undertake selected projects elsewhere in the United Kingdom and, in some cases, further afield.
Do you offer house history research?
Yes. House history research can explore documented ownership, occupancy, maps, census material, land records, directories, and other sources relevant to the history of a property.
What can a house history tell me?
A house history can help show who lived in a property, how it changed over time, when it begins to appear in the records, and how it fits into the wider history of its street, village, or community.
Still have questions?
If you are unsure which type of research is most appropriate, you are very welcome to get in touch. I would be pleased to discuss your research aims before any commitment is made.