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How I work

Initial consultation
I always provide a free, no obligation initial consultation, when we can discuss your requirements. This helps us agree on the scope of your research and ensures that the research I do for you is just what you’re looking for.

This consultation can take place by phone, Zoom or email.

Client contract
Once you are happy that we have agreed on the research you require, I will send you a comprehensive client brief, detailing every element of the work I will do for you. This will be part of my Standard Client Letter. I will also send you my Terms and Conditions.

In order to proceed, I will need to receive your signed client letter within 14 days. This will constitute our contract. If I do not hear from you within 14 days, I will assume that you do not wish to go ahead.

Pricing
My prices are outlined in Bespoke Genealogical Research and Family History Packages.

The price I quote for your project includes:

The following are not included in my standard prices, and are charged at cost:

  • copies of birth, marriage and death certificates from the General Register Office (currently priced at £12.50 for a certificate, £8 for a downloadable PDF, and £3 for a digital image viewable online)
  • research on pay-per-view websites, such as ScotlandsPeople
  • costs incurred through archive search requests, and copies of documents, when these are essential to the research
  • photography or photocopying of documents in libraries and archives
  • postage of hard copies of reports, books and any associated materials
  • public transport costs incurred in the course of my research for you
  • car mileage at £0.40 per mile

I will always try to work as economically for you as possible, and will never incur these additional costs on your behalf if there is an alternative solution.

I will never go ahead with work that will incur extra costs without your agreement.

Payment
In order to begin your research, I require an initial payment of 50% of the agreed fee. This can be made by BACS or IBAN.

Once I have completed your research, I will invoice you for the remaining 50% of the initial fee, along with any other costs agreed in the course of the research. Once I have received payment for this invoice, I will send your research report(s).

Timescales
Delivery times will be dictated by the scale of your research, and by current workload. I would expect a simple, three generation family tree to take no more than one month, and a full four-line report to take no more than two months.

Before I begin your research, I will always give you an indication of how long I expect your project to take, and agree on a delivery date with you. I will always keep you up to date with my progress, and with any problems I encounter in the course of your research.

Dispute resolution
In the unlikely event of your being dissatisfied with my work on your behalf, I will do whatever I can to put things right.

As a member of the Register of Qualified Genealogists, I abide by a strict Professional Code. If you feel that my conduct has been in breach of the Professional Code, you may contact RQG under its Resolution Procedure.