Areas of Research
Genealogy
Family Trees, 4 Generation or less, Documentary evidence, Adoption or DNA searches.
Genealogical research is intended to provide a person with a 2 to four generation Family Tree. At this level of research you can expect to have basic Trees generated that provide you with general information on your ancestors up to four generations based on information publically available about them. If official documents are needed, such as birth, death, or marriage records, they are separately ordered on a case-by case basis, and written into the research design and plan. Most people will research one line at a time. Most verifiable Trees date to around 1850.
Family History
Deep History and Trees, Family Books, Ancestory Background studies.
At this level of research, the researcher endeavors to complete all four lines of your grand parents to the furthest verifiable ancestor. Verifiable lines are completed as far back as documents are available for the lines, and historical documents are referenced. Think of it as a massive research project, on your family. In general, these projects can take upwards of two years of daily research and can potentially go to ten generations or more, if established historical lines are available. The vast majority of clients have verifiable lines dating to around 1820. However, Colonial period history is becoming more digitized, and indexed locally. As a result, new research venues are available for people seeking to dive deep into their family history. For the genealogist, these are very challenging cases, and involve multi-state and international research.
Forensic Genealogy
Heir Searches, DNA searches, Historical Estate and Deed research
While there are several areas of Forensic genealogy, including medical identifications, not all researchers specialize in the same things. Our focus is designed around researching heirs for estates that are laying dormant, or for legal disputes over historical assets, such as art, jewelry, land or hereditary titles.
We also collaborate with several global studies on DNA family groups regarding inclusion as peerage. Often land or estates are involved in these studies, and the ethical parameters for these studies include research on public ally available information about Living persons. These cases involve very formal legal contracts and documents.
Research
Historical Adoptions, News and college searches, Military History searches, etc.
Often people are simply trying to fill gaps in their own historical research, and need help accessing information on their ancestors. Genealogist are ideal for this, often being called private investigators of those who are dead. Genealogist are skilled and have extensive training on where to look and how to acquire historical documents. For those things we design a list of needed documents, and compile a list of places to acquire them. If wanted, we can also acquire the documents on an item- by-item basis with hourly fees for research times, calls, printing, etc. The expenses are comparable to those needed for a private investigator, especially if there are "walls," such as immigration, name changes, or adoptions. Those often require genealogical or forensic research.