Frequently Asked Questions

We can supply further bound copies of our reports for other members of the family, and these make popular Christmas gifts. The standard charge for a copy report is £25.

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

In England and Wales, a formal Register of Adoption has been kept since 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. The certificate enables research to begin on tracing the birth family. In Scotland, adoption has been legally recognised since 1930 and information is supplied to the adopted person, if over 17.

The most efficient method in ancestry research, and the one preferred by most of our clients, is to follow a single surname line back through the generations from son to father to grandfather and so on. However, if you particularly wish us to divide a research programme (this applies to the Standard Programme only) we can work on two surnames at the same time. This will of course limit the number of generations we are likely to discover on each line.

This is the most common question and the most difficult to answer, for every case is unique, and no reputable genealogist will predict the outcome of research. As a rough guide for UK research, if we are beginning at around 1900, and if research proceeds smoothly, we would expect to discover at least three or four further generations within our Standard Programme. However, there are many variable factors: some families stayed in the same country parish for generations, others moved around frequently in densely populated cities. Some left better ‘paper trails’ than others. We just do not 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. Some archives close for stocktaking or refurbishment, and this can cause delays. We may also need to look at documents in several different archives and this too can mean that research moves more slowly.

Our usual priority is to research as many generations as possible, since this is what most of our clients want, but along the way we always note details of brothers and sisters and occupations wherever we can discover them. This not only builds up a more interesting picture of the family but can also provide vital clues (such as naming patterns) to earlier generations.

We do not routinely look for death certificates in English research, as this can be very time-consuming and does not usually help to establish earlier generations.

If you have a particular interest (such as an ancestor’s military service, or a particular date of death) please make this clear at the outset and we will do our best to find out what you want to know.

Both the Standard Programme and the Limited Programme 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 recommended for most cases, but if you would rather have a shorter programme, or if you only require a limited amount of information, you might prefer the Limited Programme. The Limited Programme is not suitable for complex or early cases or for research outside the UK.

At the end of every research programme, you will receive a detailed report accompanied (in most cases) by a family tree chart. If further research is feasible, at the end of the report we make specific recommendations as to what could be done next. You can then choose to commission a further research programme if you wish.

We only carry out research where there is a reasonable chance of success. If you are unsure about this, try our Free Assessment Service. However, since the success of research depends on many factors beyond our control, there will be cases where the results may not be as positive as we would all wish for. Since our charges are for our time, we do not usually give refunds in such instances. If we reach a point at which we believe further research is unlikely to bear fruit, and this is agreed with our client, we are always happy to refund any unspent portion of the research programme.

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

Sample Ancestry Report	Sample Family Tree chart
Please click to view report	Please click to enlarge