This page sets out my commitment to you, and your commitment to me.

Professional Standards

1. I aim to provide a high quality genealogy and house history research service, tailored to the specific requirements of individual clients.
2. I will be clear and transparent in all dealings with you.
3. My work is underpinned by years of experience, study and academic/ professional qualifications.
4. I strive constantly to develop my own skills and knowledge through a programme of self-directed Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
5. As an Associate of the Association of Genealogists & Researchers in Archives (AGRA), I abide by the Code of Practice of that body.
6. I have a lifelong commitment to equality and diversity. This is my guarantee to you of mutual respect and high standards of service regardless of religion, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation.
   
   Confidentiality
7. I will at all times, respect the confidentiality of information about you and your family.
8. If for some reason it is necessary to share information with another person or organisation on your behalf, I will not do so without your written permission.
9. Should it be necessary for me to instruct other researchers on your behalf, for reasons of geography or specialism, I will not do so without seeking your prior permission and agreement to the engagement of that researcher.
10. Occasionally I may publish extracts from my research on my blog or in another publication. I will not do so in a way that breaches confidentiality, except with your express permission.
    
    Before any commission is agreed
11. I want you to be entirely satisfied with the work I do for you.  Before agreeing to undertake any research commission I offer an initial consultation of up to one hour.  This is free of charge.  It may take place by phone, online, face-to-face if you’re local or by email – the latter may be preferable if you have documents to share with me.
12. After that, if you wish to proceed I will confirm your instructions in writing.  You will have an opportunity to amend or clarify any points at this stage.
13. I will accept commissions only within my area of expertise.  If I am unable to carry out the work you require I will, if able, recommend another researcher.
14. Much genealogical work can be carried out effectively online.  I will accept commissions outside my stated geographical areas if, after our initial consultation, I am confident that the appropriate online resources are available. 
    
    During the research
15. I undertake to research thoroughly and methodically.  
16. I will keep you informed and updated regarding progress with research.
17. Based on details provided by you regarding any previous research, I will avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and research.  However, depending on the nature of the work, I may quickly carry out research to confirm your findings before progressing.
18. Wherever possible, I will examine original sources – either the original documents themselves or images of them via microfiche or online.  Where this is not possible I will explain why and advise of the nature of the sources examined.
19. I will not exceed the number of hours agreed by you without prior agreement.
20. I will not purchase any certificates or wills, or incur any other expenses in the course of the research without your consent.  If I consider these to be necessary for the research I will explain why.
    
    Reporting my findings to you
21. The time you pay for includes correspondence, research, analysis, report writing and preparation of charts (family trees), timelines, etc.
22. My report will set out clearly everything I have done to move you towards your research goal, including my analysis of any conflicting evidence.
23. Detailed source citations of the information obtained will be included.
24. I will not include as fact anything known to be false or unproven.  Any ‘questionable’ sources will be flagged and their reasons for inclusion explained.
25. Unsuccessful searches will also be included, and negative findings – this will be useful to you in ensuring time is not wasted in the future by repeating the same searches.
26. If I am unable to resolve your research objective, I will explain why. 
27. At the end of the report, if possible I will suggest alternative avenues of research for the future if the outcome has not been successful.  If it has been successful I will suggest next steps.  If you are the main researcher of your own family tree, these will be in the form of an ‘action plan’ so that you can continue the work yourself.
28. I undertake not to conceal or withhold data relevant to your instructions
    
    In the event of an unsuccessful outcome
29. Prior to any commission I will offer candid advice concerning the possible or probable results of any projected research.  However, please note that success cannot be guaranteed. 
30. If in the course of my research it becomes clear that no further progress can be made, the amount payable will be reduced.  If hours worked are lower than any advance payment, a partial refund will be made.
31. Charges agreed for ‘family tree’ packages will be adjusted if lack of evidence means the agreed number of generations cannot be researched.
32. In the event that no new information is located, I will include in my report a detailed record of all searches made and negative findings.
    
    In the event of any complaint
33. I will endeavour to address any issues as quickly as possible. 
34. If I am not able to resolve your complaint satisfactorily I undertake to comply with AGRA’s Complaints Procedure, and will co-operate fully with the Association in its investigation.
    
    Payment terms  
35. My fee is £35 per hour, plus expenses as set out below.  This excludes the initial consultation during which I will work with you at no cost to ensure we develop a research plan appropriate to your needs.
36. For work at Isle of Wight Records Office involving purely finding information on parish registers and presenting that information in the form of a table, with no additional report, my fee is £30 per hour.
37. Payment is in pounds Sterling (£) by BACS transfer or PayPal.
38. A 50% deposit plus any already identified expenses is required prior to commencement of the research.  The remainder is to be paid within one week of completion of the project, before the work is sent to you.
39. Charges for hours worked in accordance with our agreement for custom projects will be payable in full, even if nothing is found.  No charge be made for any agreed hours not worked after a decision is made that success is unlikely.
    
    Additional expenses
40. Any documents required for completion of the research are provided at cost, and will not be purchased without prior agreement from you.
41. In the event that an Archive Photo Permit is required this will be obtained with your consent.
42. No charge will be made for travel or parking for any work on the Isle of Wight.
43. Travel to other Record Offices and Archives in the south of England (generally limited to Chichester, Portsmouth, Southampton or Winchester) will be by public transport and will be charged at cost.
44. Travel to West Yorkshire Archives will be combined with other research and a contribution to costs agreed on a per-case basis.
45. No charge will be made for time taken to travel to any of the archives named above.  Should it be agreed that I travel to any other archive on your instruction, there may be a charge for travel time.
    
    Copyright
46. Any documents prepared by me in the process of my research, including any charts, reports, transcriptions and translations remain my copyright and should not be published without my prior consent.
47. Any material which has been digitised by and obtained from websites, remains the copyright of the individual website and the original archive.  It will be fully acknowledged in my report.  It should not be further published.
48. Certificates obtained on your behalf from the General Register Office or similar remain the copyright of the Crown and will be fully acknowledged in my report.  The certificates themselves will remain in your ownership.
49. Photographs of original documents taken by me at Local Record Offices or other Archives will have been taken with the permission of the archives, and must not be published without the express permission of the relevant archive.
    
    Limitation of liability
50. Any information, documentation and prior research provided by you will be taken as our starting point and will be set out at the beginning of my report.  Any information gathered in my research already known to you but not made known to me at the outset will be chargeable.
51. Documents are provided and interpreted on an ‘as is’ basis.  I do not accept responsibility for any errors in those original and transcribed documents.
52. My liability for any actual, incidental, indirect or consequential loss or damage howsoever caused, is limited to the value of the contract.
53. The services of any third party instructed to assist in the research process are subject to these terms and conditions.  If they require you to agree to their own terms and conditions, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have read and understood them.  You agree that any recourse for dissatisfaction or problems with any third party research will be sought from that third party provider.
    
    Cancellation
54. I will not proceed with any work until I receive your email confirming (a) the agreed research plan and (b) that you have read and understood these Terms and Conditions.
55. You have the right to cancel your agreement with me at any time within fourteen days immediately following the day that you respond by email.  However, please note that your email confirmation is my authorisation to start work immediately.  If you later choose to exercise your right to cancel, you will be liable to pay for any and all work I have done up to the date of cancellation.  The amount due to me will be deducted from any payment you have already made, and any balance remaining will be returned to you within fourteen days of the date of cancellation.
56. If payment is not made under the terms of this agreement and/or any invoice submitted to you, I reserve the right to cancel your instructions and discontinue work on your behalf.  Any outstanding payments will however remain outstanding.
57. Failure to pay may result in dispute resolution and/or court proceedings to recover any outstanding fees, which may in themselves result in further costs being paid by you.
    
    Non-performance
58. If, for any reasons of injury or ill health rendering me unable to work, I am unable to complete your instructions, I will provide a full report of work carried out to date along with full supporting information and documentation. I will also provide my written consent for such report, information and documentation to be provided to an alternative genealogist or family historian of your choosing. You agree to pay for all work completed up to that date. Where pre-payment is made, any balance, after deduction for the work carried out, will be returned within fourteen days.
    
    General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
59. In agreeing to these terms and conditions you consent to me holding such personal information about you and your family as is necessary for the purposes of research. In accordance with the law, these will be retained by me for a minimum period of five years. I will comply with the relevant data protection legislation.
    
    Applicable Law
60. The law applicable to this agreement is the law of England and Wales.