Hiring a professional genealogist can be a big investment, both personally and financially. Whether you’re looking for help with record retrieval, translation, or a full-blown research project, you’ll want to ensure your research dollars are well spent. Ask your professional about their experience, availability, and fees, as well as communication standards and final delivery.
Before you start looking…
Make sure you’ve got your research in order before you start contacting any professionals. This will make sure you make the best use of your expert’s time (and your research dollars!)
Interview family members to make sure you have all available information. Be sure to ask for any documents and photos as well. As always, take any unproven family stories with a grain of salt.
Fill out a pedigree chart with the information you already know. If you have an online tree, make sure it is up to date and that your documents and photos are readily available.
Finally, make sure you have a specific research goal.
1. What is your background, and what areas do you specialize in?
Ask about their background and areas of expertise. How many years of experience do they have? Do they have any degrees in family history research or related fields? What time periods, countries, and languages are they well-versed in?
2. What is your fee?
Most professional genealogists charge an hourly rate for research or similar work. Hourly rates can vary from $30 to $40 per hour to well over $200 per hour based on experience, location, project type and uses, demand, time constraints, and other factors. Ask your expert what they charge and what additional expenses they might have. Many genealogists charge extra for travel, photocopies, postage, etc.
3. What is your availability?
Ask your pro about their availability and a realistic timeframe for your project. Some professional genealogists have a significant backlog, and projects can sometimes take months to complete.
4. How often do you update clients on your progress?
The frequency of the communication depends on the project. Make sure you and your pro have the same expectations to avoid frustration in the future.
5. How is the final product delivered?
Ask your expert how they will be delivering the results of their research to you. The final product depends on your budget, though typical elements include a written report of the research, GEDCOM files, documents, citations, etc. Also, be sure to ask your professional about copyright and publication rights.
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