Research Services
Every family history question is different. Whether you're starting from scratch, trying to solve a long-standing family mystery, researching a military ancestor, or making sense of DNA results, I can help you find and understand the evidence behind your family's story.
Explore the research areas below to see some of the ways I can help. You don't need to know which type of research your project requires—tell me what you're trying to discover, and I'll recommend the best place to begin.
Build My Family Tree
Research your ancestry and build a documented family tree using historical records and reliable sources.
Best for:
Getting started, extending an existing tree, or discovering earlier generations.
What you receive:
Research findings, documented sources, family-tree updates, and a written summary of the discoveries.
Research a Veteran’s Story
Discover an ancestor’s military service through military records, pension files, unit histories, and other historical sources.
Best for:
Civil War, WWI, WWII, and other U.S. military ancestors whose service you want to understand beyond basic dates.
What you receive:
Military-record research, historical context, documented sources, and a written account of your ancestor’s service.
Find a Biological Parent or Relative
Use DNA matches and traditional genealogical research to identify unknown biological parents, grandparents, or other family connections.
Best for:
Adoptees, unknown parentage, unknown grandparents, foundlings, unexpected DNA results, and identifying biological relatives.
What you receive:
DNA match analysis and grouping, family-tree reconstruction, supporting genealogical research, evidence explaining the identified relationship, and a written summary of the findings.
Solve a Family Mystery
Investigate a difficult ancestor, missing connection, conflicting records, or long-standing family question.
Best for:
Brick walls, uncertain parentage, conflicting records, missing ancestors, or family stories that need verification.
What you receive:
Focused research, source documentation, evidence analysis, and a written explanation of the findings.
Understand My DNA
Make sense of your DNA matches and use genetic genealogy to answer questions about biological relationships.
Best for:
Unknown relatives, confusing DNA matches, biological-parent or grandparent questions, and confirming family relationships.
What you receive:
DNA-match analysis, relationship research, supporting genealogical evidence, and a clear explanation of the findings.
Historical Record Deep Search
Go beyond traditional name searches to uncover ancestors and family connections hidden in handwritten, unindexed, and difficult-to-search historical records.
Best for:
Brick walls, difficult 18th- and 19th-century ancestors, land and property questions, probate and estate research, court records, and family relationships that haven't been resolved through conventional searches.
What you receive:
Advanced record searching, copies or links to relevant records, transcriptions of important passages when needed, complete source citations, analysis of the evidence, and a written explanation of what the records reveal.
Additional Genealogy Services
Research projects can also include pedigree and descendant charts, Ahnentafel and descendant reports, family group sheets, birth, marriage and death record research, lineage and patriot research, and custom family-history reports.
If your research question doesn't fit one of the areas above, that's fine. Describe what you're trying to discover during your free consultation and I'll determine how I can help.
Not Sure Where to Start?
You don't need to know which service you need. Tell me what you know about your family and what you're hoping to discover, and I'll recommend the best approach for your research.
Research That Fits Your Question and Budget
Every project begins with a free consultation. After reviewing your research question, I'll recommend an initial amount of research based on the scope of the project and your budget.
You'll know the research time and cost before work begins, and additional research is never undertaken without your approval.
What You Can Expect
1
What You Want to Discover
Share what you already know about your family and the questions you'd like answered.
2
I Research the Evidence
I'll identify and analyze relevant historical records, genealogical sources, and DNA evidence when applicable.
3
Receive Your Findings
You'll receive clearly documented findings explaining what was discovered, the evidence supporting it, and recommended next steps when appropriate.