Do you have a specific question about a story that has been handed down in the family?
Or a question about a family mystery?
Or perhaps you’re a keen family researcher who has tried everything, and now need a fresh pair of eyes to progress a knotty problem on your tree?

Custom genealogy is simply research tailored to your specific needs.
It is charged by the hour.
We agree a maximum number of hours, after which I report back to you with all I’ve found and Invoice for the number of hours worked.
After that, you consider the job done; or if not, we agree a further batch of hours.

Our starting point is what you already know

• What do you already know regarding this person/ family?
• What would you like to investigate/ what are you trying to find out?
• What have you have done so far to try to resolve your query?
• Did you have any results that you have discounted? If so, why?
• Is there any other information you think could be relevant?
• Ideally, I would like to view your family tree if you have one – you can send me an invitation to your online tree, or a copy of the relevant part of your paper tree.

I spend time before the research starts to understand what you need from me

• Having seen your tree I may suggest that the research starts a generation or two earlier – Sometimes my fresh pair of eyes spot an error that you have been too close to see – like an impossible age difference between alleged parent and child.
• Or I may suggest an alternative approach to what you’re asking me to do.
• I may ask where you got the information you have so far? Which record sets did you use? Where did you access them (e.g. at the archives, via FindMyPast, etc)? And what specifically did you see? Was it a transcript or a digital image copy of the original documents?
• I will offer candid advice concerning the possible or probable results of any projected research.

I will accept commissions only within my area of expertise, and for which I consider there is a realistic chance of success

What you’ll get from me

• A full report of all research carried out, including analysis and reasons for my conclusions.
• Information included will depend on the specific research question being investigated, but is likely to include names of key people, dates of their significant life events, where they lived at various stages of their lives, what they did for a living, any spouses and children, and any other information about their lives relevant to the research.
• Copies and transcriptions of all records identified and drawn upon in the research. Depending on the specific question you’ve asked me to research, this could include any of the following: Civil Birth, Marriage and Death certificates*; Religious Baptism, Marriage and Burial register entries; Municipal Cemetary registers; Census returns, Military Attestation, Service Record or Pension documentation; Newspaper reports; Criminal records; Electoral, Poll Book or Directory entries; Probate documents, including Wills*.
• Please note that the cost of documents marked with an asterisk* will be charged extra (at cost). To keep costs down, where I consider the information recorded on any of these documents is available (or largely available) online at no additional cost, I will discuss this with you, explaining what benefits there might be in incurring the additional costs. We will then proceed accordingly. Any documents purchased and received as hard copies will belong to you and will be posted to you at the end of the research.
• A family tree chart including everyone relevant to the focus of the research (see example below).
• Where possible, and if appropriate to your needs, I try to step back and look for the stories: what might have been happening to make this person take this action? What was happening in their world – in their family or locality, in wider society or politics?
• Any further areas for potential research that you might like to explore will also be included.
• The report will be delivered to you by email.

My fee is £35 per hour
This includes time spent carrying out the research and writing up the report.
A maximum number of hours will be agreed at the initial consultation stage, with an option to agree further hours if a conclusion has not been reached, or if you would like further work beyond your original objective.
Any certificates purchased will be charged extra, at cost. Any paper certificates purchased will belong to you and will be posted to you at the end of the research.

Testimonials from happy clients

My mother was adopted as a small child but often recalled memories of her birth mother including going to her funeral. With so little information to go on I was amazed when Janice started her painstaking research and gradually found not only the story of what happened to my grandmother, but also whole generations of a family I never knew existed. With clear, detailed, concise updates I eagerly looked forward to reading about these new relations and I am still stunned by how much she has uncovered.

It has all been so well presented and I will be forever grateful to Janice for all the hard work she has put into this.

I can definitely recommend her to anyone wishing to research their family. In my opinion you won’t find anyone with a better dedication. I just wish mum could have read about these wonderful relations she never knew she had.

Thank you so much Janice.

Sheila L, July 2019

*****

All I can say is Wow! For years we have wondered if we have any step Aunts or Uncles born to my ‘unknown’ Grandad after he and Grandma split up when my mother was just a child.  Several family members, myself included, have tried to unravel the family history and trace the particular branch of this tree, unfortunately however, with no success. Janice has traced my Grandfather.

However, my “wow” comment comes not from the many facts uncovered, but more for the way the facts are presented.  Reading about my ancestors is like reading a best selling novel. It’s almost like the characters come alive off the page.  Janice’s research into what was happening in the country at the time, with the economy, the war, politics etc. makes reading about where they lived, how they lived, the employment they had, a riveting read. Be prepared though, for the odd skeleton in the cupboard to appear.

Janice’s high attention to detail is admirable, as is her reluctance to pay for uncertain certificates that just “may” be what is needed. All other possible avenues will be exhausted before any purchase is made.

I highly recommend Janice’s genealogy service, I’m sure you will not be disappointed

Julie H, August 2019.

*****

Dear Janice

Thank you so very much for the completed report, like you say there is a lot to take in, I’ve had to read over it several times trying to absorb!  Strangely I feel quite emotional.  Although we didn’t get the direct link I was hoping for, reading about all my ancestors in more detail brings them alive for me.  I feel rather than this being the end of my quest it’s just the beginning, I shall definitely follow up on all your suggestions regarding the various leads.

Thank you so much for your help giving me some clarity, your professionalism and expertise is outstanding.  I would like to hope our paths will meet again in the future as my research goes on and I might need more help.  It’s been a pleasure

Francesca H, August 2023