Research Packages

Our Research Services

Throughout the last 40+ years I have worked as a teacher, public speaker and consultant assisting others with their research or doing work for them.

Seeking our roots is one of the fastest growing pastimes now and most people have at least a passing interest in their own history. However, not everyone has the time, technological confidence or just the desire to do their own research and so this is where I can help.

Why choose me to do your research for you?

Researching your family tree is a wonderful delight, however, some will see it as an opportunity to make a quick buck and you'll end up with the wrong outcome and your income disappearing fast.

One guarantee is to choose a researcher registered with AGRA, the Association of Genealogists in Archives who provide a stringent code of practice for their members. However, this is very expensive as the researcher has to qualify and pay registration fees etc that they need to recover in their charges to you.

Not every researcher is able to meet their stringent registration criteria due to time, other commitments and money. In the absence of AGRA membership then, look for a researcher's experience and what they offer, especially in terms of evidence of their work.

Many researchers offering their services have worked on their own trees and maybe helped a few friends and consider that sufficient to qualify them to work and research your tree. You must always pick someone with more extensive experience and who will provide documented evidence of every name they find. It won't make exciting reading and - believe me - it's tedious to prepare, but it is most definitely an essential mark of a competent researcher, giving their research accountability.

Research Packages

ONE LINE STARTER £480

One surname line back to around 1837 (when civil registration began). This will include basic information on spouses and children but not their families. It also assumes that your family is predominantly from England or Wales. Research for other areas can be discussed at our initial consultation but will likely incur more costs or I will refer you to a more locally based researcher. What you will receive:

A FREE initial consultation of up to one hour followed by feedback on the feasibility of your request.

A weekly email giving you an outline on progress so far and generally keeping in touch with you.

A comprehensive document presented in paper or digital format giving evidence of how the research was carried out by referencing civil registration indexes, census pages and parish register entries, maps, other relevant information that allowed me to create your tree. The report will also include any references to further relevant information that you may find interesting.

All documents purchased such as certificates, wills etc. I provide you with birth and marriage certificates for each direct ancestor as part of my research evidence and these are included in the package price (one certificate currently costs £11.25 - or less for a PDF copy- and I will be potentially ordering two per direct ancestor)

A pedigree chart, A4 or A3 as needed

A gedcom of your family history so that you can easily share it with your family.

A non-refundable deposit of 50% will be required with the rest due upon completion and prior to the release of documentation.

TWO SURNAME LINES £950

Two surname lines back to around 1837 (when civil registration began) starting with your parent or grandparent. This will include basic names and dates for spouses and children but not their families. It also assumes that your family is predominantly from England or Wales. Research for other areas can be discussed at our initial consultation but will likely incur more costs or I will refer you to a more locally based researcher. What you will receive:

A FREE initial consultation of up to one hour followed by feedback on the feasibility of your request.

A weekly email giving you an outline on progress so far and generally keeping in touch with you.

All documents purchased such as certificates, wills etc. I provide you with birth and marriage certificates for each direct ancestor as part of my research evidence and these are included in the package price (one certificate currently costs £11.00 - - or less for a PDF copy -and I will be potentially ordering two per direct ancestor)

A pedigree chart, A4 or A3 as needed

A gedcom of your family history so that you can easily share it with your family.

A non-refundable deposit of 75% will be required up with the rest due upon completion and prior to the release of documentation.

PRE 1837 or Miscellaneous work FOR £25 PER HOUR

Sometimes you just need a second pair of eyes when doing your own research where you've hit a brick wall. I can provide a bespoke service to just look through your research and brick wall for you.

If it is research prior to 1837 that you require, be aware that civil registration and census returns are no longer an available source in this time period. That means relying on mostly parish registers. Please be aware that the availability and accessibility of parish records varies greatly, therefore, it would be impossible to even come close to guaranteeing to get back to any specific date. Migration between parishes, illegitimacy, non-conformism, illegible or missing records and many other scenarios make pre 1837 research much, more difficult and time consuming.

This is why the charge has to be an hourly rate rather than a fixed price. I am nicely centred between several county record offices and, rather than charge per mile and per hour, I charge a standard rate of £160 which includes up to 6 hours research and travel there and back. Record offices I will visit are Bedford, Cambridge, Huntingdon, Leicester and Northampton.

If you would like to take your ancestry back this far I offer a FREE initial consultation for up to one hour to discuss your requirements.

In the first instance please email me on katrina@picturemypast.co.uk