The number of hours needed to complete a genealogy research project depends on what you want to discover about your family and how complex it is to find the answer. Finding the maiden name of your great-grandfather’s first wife could take an hour or two to twenty or more, depending on the sources available, how accessible they are, and whether it requires more in-depth cluster research. 

We recommend increments of five hours for smaller research projects. For more involved projects, we’ll negotiate the hours necessary to conduct the research and prepare a genealogical report. If the research and reporting are finished in fewer than the authorized number of hours, you only pay for the actual time spent on the project.

Before any research begins, Family History Writing will develop a research plan and make sure that you understand what the research entails and how long you can expect it to take. 

As the research is in progress, we’ll keep you updated on any major discoveries or developments. If anything changes along the way—the need for additional records, fees for copying, etc.—we’ll contact you and obtain your authorization before any kind of expense.

At the end of the process, Family History Writing will provide you with a complete, thoroughly analyzed and documented research report, including suggestions for further research.

One of the joys of genealogy is finding answers to long-held questions about our family history. One of the not-so-fun truths about genealogy is that the answer can’t always be found. If, for instance, your ancestors tied the knot before their home county started recording marriages, or if the courthouse where the marriage records were kept burned or were destroyed in some other disaster, sometimes the sources just aren’t there.

What Family History Writing can guarantee is that we will use the full range of our knowledge and skills to discover all the relevant documents that can shed light on your family history question. We’ll record our searches and sources, including what we didn’t find. Knowing, for instance, that an ancestor wasn’t where you expected them to be can open up a whole world of research possibilities.

That’s great! Researching family history is rewarding, but wrangling all that information into something people are excited to read can be daunting. During our initial consultation, we’ll review everything you’ve found—genealogical sources like birth, marriage, and death records; letters and photographs; and even family lore and heirlooms.

To determine if we have enough information to create the fullest and most factual picture of your ancestor’s life, Family History Writing will develop a timeline of all your genealogical research. If there are areas that need to be filled in or other inconsistencies, it may be necessary to do additional research.

Our ancestors were complicated people; following their lives can take twists and turns. 

Absolutely! Family History Writing offers content and copyediting services. Check out our Services page to learn more!