faq
What would you like to know?
Q: what’s a gedcom?
A: A Genealogical Data Communication (GEDCOM) is a digital file that can exchange genealogical data amongst different genealogy softwares. Once a family tree is complete, we provide you with your family’s GEDCOM so you can upload it to any genealogy site that accepts GEDCOMS (e.g., Ancestry, MyHeritage) or software (e.g., FamilyTree Maker).
Q: how long does a typical family tree take to build?
A: It depends on many factors including: how many generations we are building; the availability of the data; how much information you have compiled already; whether you need certified (hard) copies; if you want a narrative report or a simple GEDCOM and research calendar.
We provide a detailed research plan and project scope including time and budget after the initial consult, but a basic two or three generation tree generally takes 10 to 20 hours to compile, depending on the depth and complexity of the information being sought. Project turnaround can range from three weeks — if all information is readily available online — to eight weeks or more if we have to send off for physical copies of birth, marriage and death certificates. Even when records are digitized and made available online through paid repositories, not all databases have been indexed, which requires manual searching (like, page-by-page-in-barely-legible-church-records kind of searching). Other records have not yet been made available online - or may not exist at all. We keep careful notes in our research calendars to track positive and negative results.
Bespoke projects - such as a custom hardback book of your family tree - can range from one month to compile the information, to six months for design, layout, review, approval, and printing. You should plan for custom projects to take a minimum of three months to complete unless our proposal tells you differently.
Q: what happens if you don’t find what i’m looking for?
A: We do our very best to find and report the data - whether positive or negative — but in some cases, information does not exist. Sometimes we can complete only two or three branches of your family tree; sometimes, we can’t complete everything you want; we check every source and will pursue all the leads available to us, but if the information we seek is not available, we will discuss this finding with you and determine the next steps.
Q: how much does it cost?
A: All projects begin with you filling out the Project Form. We’ll send you a proposal, and if you choose to move forward, we schedule an Initial Consult, at which point a non-refundable retainer fee of $250 is required to guarantee your spot in our calendar.
Basic genealogy and citizenship projects start at $600. This is typically a simple, two generation report which includes family tree, supporting documentation (vital, census, naturalization records, etc.), research calendar and GEDCOM. Projects begin with an 8 hour (full day) block of time. Additional research time is scheduled at $130 per two-hour blocks. Basic projects range between 10-20 hours.
Bespoke projects are priced according to the project deliverables. Because personalized projects are unique, we work with you to determine pricing based on time, materials, and finished results. Some examples include: One-on-one coaching to help you develop your own genealogy chops, or to strategize with you on how best to find that missing ancestor, is $120 per hour. A detailed, three generation report including images, sources, calendar, and GEDCOM starts at $2,750. Genealogy research and pre-production for a custom book printing starts at $5200. Every bespoke project is designed and priced based on client requirements to ensure we meet your exacting needs.
Not quite ready? Not certain what you want or need? Have a particular budget in mind? Consider a one hour Initial Consult. The fee is $50, applicable toward your future project. We can have a detailed discussion, and plan and budget accordingly. You can get the answers you need, and decide when to move forward, at minimal cost.
Q: i have a question you didn’t answer here.
A: Talk to us! We’d love to answer your question! You can email us, or fill out our contact form.