We can supply further bound copies of our reports for other members of the family, which make popular gifts. The standard charge for a copy report is £25, and we can also supply a PDF copy for £15. If you are a client and wish to order an additional copy of a report please click here.

In most cases we will be tracing back in time to look for ancestors, but the Standard and Extended Programmes can also be used to look for descendants. Usually, working forwards in time is more time-consuming, because there are more unknown factors involved.

This depends on the circumstances.  For example, in England and Wales, a formal Register of Adoption has been kept since 1927, but before that it is likely that no formal record of an adoption survives. For adoptions after 1927, The Children’s Act of 1975 allows an adopted person, if over 18, to apply for their original birth certificate. No one else can do this for them. If we are given a copy of that certificate, we can usually begin research on the birth family. In Scotland, adoption has been legally recognised since 1930, and information is supplied to the adopted person, if they are over 17.

The most efficient method in ancestry research is to follow a single surname line back through the generations, from son to father to grandfather etc; so this is what we usually recommend. However, if you want two surname lines researched at once, and the research is likely to be straightforward, a good choice is our Extended Programme. This gives a little less research time to each line than the Standard Programme but allows for research on two lines. Another option is to commission more than one Standard Programme at the same time. If you choose this option, we may be able to offer reduced rates, so please ask for details. If you wish to research matrilineally (from mother to grandmother and so on) we recommend our Standard or Extended Programme, since this is usually more time-consuming.

This is the most common question and the most difficult to answer, since every case is unique, and it is impossible to predict the outcome of research in detail. As a rough guide for UK research, if we are beginning at around 1900, we expect to discover at least three or four further generations within our Standard Programme. However, there are many variable factors, For instance, some families stayed in the same country parish for generations, while others moved around frequently in densely populated cities. Some left better ‘paper trails’ than others. We just don’t know what we will find until we start exploring.

Good research is a painstaking process. The average time taken to complete a Standard Programme is three months, but this will vary according to where the records are held. For instance, some archives close for stocktaking or refurbishment, and this can cause delays. Also, we may need to look at documents in several different archives, and this too can mean that research moves more slowly.

Our usual priority is to discover as many generations as possible, since this is what most of our clients want. However, along the way we always note details of brothers and sisters, and we always record occupations wherever we can discover them. There are some details that we don’t pursue: for example, we don’t routinely look for death certificates in English research. Also, we won’t research the recent generations in your family, unless you ask us to do so. So, you have a particular priority, or an area that you would like to be explored, please make this clear at the outset and we will do our best to find out what you want to know.

The Standard, Limited and Extended Programmes are carried out and presented in exactly the same way; the only difference is how long we spend on the research. The Standard Programme is suitable for most cases, but if you would rather have a shorter programme, or if you only want a limited amount of information, you might prefer the Limited Programme. (However, the Limited Programme is not suitable for complex or early cases, or for research outside the UK.) If you are just beginning research and would like two surname lines explored (for example, your father’s and mother’s) we recommend our Extended Programme. The Extended Programme is also ideal for very challenging or early cases.

At the end of every research programme, you will receive a detailed report and family tree. In many cases, there will be scope to continue research, so at the end of each report we make specific recommendations as to what could be done next. Then, you can choose to commission a further programme if you wish.

At the end of each research programme, we provide a detailed report, describing and analysing the research in full. Copies of certificates, census returns, etc, are included in the report, which is spiral bound in our traditional red and gold Debrett covers. In most instances, you will also receive a detailed pedigree chart (family tree), usually A3 in size, on 100gsm paper. Each chart is individually designed and presented in our unique house style.

This will vary from case to case, but we routinely include copies of civil registration certificates, census returns and wills of direct ancestors. Copies of a variety of other records will also be included where this is permitted. When we are working in the civil registration period (from 1837 onwards in England and Wales) we usually try to obtain birth and marriage certificates for your male ancestors, where possible. This is because relying on census returns alone (as some do) cuts costs but can lead to serious errors being made.

It is certainly the case that in genealogy the results are often not cut and dried. We strive to be accurate at all stages of research, and we tend to err on the side of caution. This sometimes means that research is slow-moving, because in cases of uncertainty we will search around for further confirmation. It is always helpful to have full known information at the outset, since sometimes a small detail can be very important. The farther back we research, the fewer sources are available and this means that sometimes it is impossible to establish a connection with absolute certainty. In such cases we make it clear that we are making educated guesses, and where necessary, links will be shown on the chart as a dotted line, indicating that firm proof is lacking.

Many records are now available online, the most valuable of which are those which have been digitised and indexed. However, there are still a great many records which are not. Some researchers fall into the trap of searching what is readily available, rather than what must be logically searched. We place great emphasis on checking original sources where possible. Additionally, many inaccurate genealogies have now been posted online. Any family tree posted on an Internet site needs to be fully referenced with original records and so if it is not, treat it with extreme caution!