The Process
A Research Process Built on Trust & Expertise
From your first question to your final deliverable, every step is guided by professional standards, transparent communication, and deep respect for your family story.
Initial Consultation
We start by listening.
Your journey begins with a free 30-minute consultation call. We'll ask about your family knowledge, your specific questions, and what you hope to discover. There are no wrong answers — even fragmentary information is a starting point.
What happens here:
- Free 30-minute discovery call
- Discussion of your ancestry questions and goals
- Review of what you already know
- Assessment of research feasibility
- Service recommendation and quote
Case Setup & Research Plan
A strategy built around your family.
Once you confirm your engagement, your dedicated researcher designs a customized research plan. This includes identifying the most promising records, archives, and research pathways specific to your family's geography, time period, and ethnicity.
What happens here:
- Dedicated researcher assigned to your case
- Custom research strategy document
- Identification of target record repositories
- Case timeline and milestone planning
- Secure client portal setup
Active Research
We do the work — so you don't have to.
Our researchers dive into the work: navigating archives, interpreting historical records, cross-referencing databases, and piecing together the evidence. This phase can span weeks, depending on the complexity of your research goals.
What happens here:
- Vital records and census research
- Immigration and naturalization files
- Military, land, and probate records
- International archive access
- DNA analysis support where applicable
Progress Updates
You're kept in the loop, every step.
As discoveries unfold, we share updates through your secure client portal. You'll receive notifications when new records are found, key milestones are reached, or when we have questions that only you can answer.
What happens here:
- Regular updates in your client portal
- Notification of significant discoveries
- Opportunity to provide additional context
- Secure messaging with your researcher
- File and document sharing in real time
Findings Review
We present our discoveries together.
When research reaches a natural conclusion, we schedule a findings review session. We walk through everything we discovered — answering your questions, explaining the evidence, and confirming accuracy before final packaging.
What happens here:
- Findings review call or session
- Evidence walkthrough and explanation
- Your opportunity to ask questions
- Accuracy confirmation and corrections
- Discussion of any unresolved questions
Final Delivery
A family treasure, delivered.
Your research concludes with a beautifully formatted deliverable package. This includes a narrative report, documented family tree, timeline of events, and your photo/document portfolio — all delivered securely through your client portal.
What happens here:
- Written narrative family history report
- Digital family tree (printable formats)
- Documented source and evidence inventory
- Family event timeline
- Photo and document digital portfolio
Have Questions?
Every family research project is unique. If you have questions about the process, timelines, or what we can realistically find — we're happy to talk it through. That's what the free consultation is for.