Q: How many hours will it take to research my project?
A: The scale of the project is a key factor in how many hours of research are required. Answering a specific question about one ancestor may only take an hour or two of research, while producing a full family tree would require many hours. Other factors, such as the availability of records and the time period being researched may also affect the amount of time required. In general, it is more time consuming to find information from earlier time periods.
Q: Can I set a limit on the number of hours of research?
A: Yes. You can choose to purchase a certain number of hours of research. I will get as much information as I can in that amount of time and then report back to you. At that point you can decide if you want me to do additional research or not. If you leave the amount of research open-ended, I will provide progress reports periodically to update you on how many hours I have spent on research.
Q: Are they any charges other than the hourly research fee?
A: There may be additional charges to cover the cost of obtaining documents, microfilm, etc. I will always get your approval for these additional costs before ordering materials. If you decline, I will not place the order. If travel is required for research, I reserve the right to charge for mileage.
Q: What if you can’t answer my question?
A: In genealogical research, it is impossible to guarantee results. The information being sought may simply not exist. Records may not have been kept during a particular time period, or they may have been destroyed at some later date. If I fail to find the information you are seeking, I will provide you with a list of all sources that I have searched. Even negative results are valuable, as they help focus any future research. For this reason, research fees will still apply even if I am not able to find an answer to your question.
Q: Are all genealogy records available online now?
A: Many records are now available online (some free and some by subscription), and the number is increasing daily. However, genealogists must still use traditional methods to find some information. This may involve ordering records from government offices, archives, or libraries, which can sometimes take several weeks. In some cases, it may be necessary to travel to a repository or hire a local researcher to obtain records.
A: The scale of the project is a key factor in how many hours of research are required. Answering a specific question about one ancestor may only take an hour or two of research, while producing a full family tree would require many hours. Other factors, such as the availability of records and the time period being researched may also affect the amount of time required. In general, it is more time consuming to find information from earlier time periods.
Q: Can I set a limit on the number of hours of research?
A: Yes. You can choose to purchase a certain number of hours of research. I will get as much information as I can in that amount of time and then report back to you. At that point you can decide if you want me to do additional research or not. If you leave the amount of research open-ended, I will provide progress reports periodically to update you on how many hours I have spent on research.
Q: Are they any charges other than the hourly research fee?
A: There may be additional charges to cover the cost of obtaining documents, microfilm, etc. I will always get your approval for these additional costs before ordering materials. If you decline, I will not place the order. If travel is required for research, I reserve the right to charge for mileage.
Q: What if you can’t answer my question?
A: In genealogical research, it is impossible to guarantee results. The information being sought may simply not exist. Records may not have been kept during a particular time period, or they may have been destroyed at some later date. If I fail to find the information you are seeking, I will provide you with a list of all sources that I have searched. Even negative results are valuable, as they help focus any future research. For this reason, research fees will still apply even if I am not able to find an answer to your question.
Q: Are all genealogy records available online now?
A: Many records are now available online (some free and some by subscription), and the number is increasing daily. However, genealogists must still use traditional methods to find some information. This may involve ordering records from government offices, archives, or libraries, which can sometimes take several weeks. In some cases, it may be necessary to travel to a repository or hire a local researcher to obtain records.
©2018, copyright Teresa Shippy