Family Tree Services
Q:
How do we get started?
First things, first! Before any work begins, we will need to determine your research goal(s). (e.g. "I want to know where my grandfather's family came from," or "I'd like a pedigree of my mother's side of the family, going back five generations.") Once a goal has been set, and a contract signed, you will need to provide me with as much information as you have. The more information you can give me, the better able I'll be to track down leads.
Q:
How long does it take?
That depends on the project! Every project is unique, which makes it difficult to predict the amount of time it will take to solve a research problem or locate specific records. Some projects move forward quickly, whereas others take a bit more time due to their complexity or types of records that need to be reviewed. For a large research project, however, you should expect a minimum of ten working hours and up to six weeks before your project is delivered to you. If I hit a stumbling block in my research that makes it difficult to accomplish our goal within the set time, I will contact you.
Q:
How much do you charge?
I currently charge $45 per hour. If I am unable to find any information for you in the first hour, your deposit will be returned and you will not be charged for my time. I never round up my hours, so you'll never pay for a single minute that I'm not working.
Q:
Can I set a cap before you begin?
Absolutely! A fee limit is included in the contract. You will never be charged for hours you have not authorized.
Q:
Can you find out if I'm related to King Arthur/Robin Hood/Beowulf?
Possibly. But it wouldn't be ethical or accurate! There are a number of genealogies -- particularly medieval genealogies -- that claim to do just that. I've seen family histories literally going back to Adam. I've also seen histories tracing a family's descent from Zeus. If a genealogist claims they can do this for you, smile politely and put your money away.
Q:
Family legend says that we have Native American heritage. Can you find out if that's true?
Possibly. Proving Native American heritage is usually either fairly simple or very difficult. There are a number of resources, but they aren't always complete or accurate. In the 1800s, some families hid their native heritage to avoid forced removal. Census takers in some places also had a tendency to mark residents as "Colored" or "Mulatto" instead of "I" for "Indian". Native Americans, African Americans, and people of mixed heritage might appear in Census records as "Indian" one decade, and "Black" the next. I recommend DNA testing: specifically, AncestryDNA or 23andMe, because the accuracy of their ancestry estimates is always evolving. Your results will continuously improve as their science does.
Q:
I'm LGBTQ/my family is untraditional. Will you build a family tree for my wedding/nursery?
Happily and whole-heartedly.
Forensic Services
Q:
How do we get started?
Before any work begins, we will need to determine your research goals. I'm happy to provide a free consultation by email. Once a goal has been set, and a contract signed, you will need to provide me with as much information as you have. The more information you can give me, the quicker I'll be to track down leads.
Q:
How long does it take?
That depends on the project. If, for example, you need to locate a missing beneficiary, that may only take a few hours. For a large project, however, such as building an estate case from the ground up, you should expect a minimum of thirty working hours and up to three months before your project is completed.
Q:
How much do you charge? How do you set your fees?
I currently charge by the hour. I've found that this is more affordable for my clients than charging by percentage or by project. My fee is currently $45 per hour for large cases, and $75 per hour for smaller problem-solving jobs.
Q:
Can I set a cap before you begin?
Absolutely! A fee limit is included in the contract. You will never be charged for hours you have not authorized.
Q:
Can I use your findings in court?
Yes. At the conclusion of your case, you will have thorough, detailed reports, and proof of compliance with due diligence requirements.
Q:
Are you insured?
Yes! Visible Roots has Professional Liability Insurance against Errors and Omissions, and has never had a claim.
Q:
Why should I hire Visible Roots?
In short: experience, diligence, and affordability. With more than 20 years of experience in the fields of genealogy and legal investigation, I know how to quickly navigate through thousands of records, follow hunches, and piece together fragmentary information. I never round up my hours, so you'll never pay for a single minute that I'm not working.