DNA results can provide powerful clues about your family history, but a list of hundreds or thousands of matches can be difficult to interpret. Understanding how those matches connect to one another—and to your family tree—is often the key to making your results useful.
This service combines DNA match analysis with traditional genealogical research to identify relationship patterns, investigate family connections, and help answer specific questions about your ancestry.
Understand My DNA
Make sense of your DNA matches and use genetic genealogy to answer questions about biological relationships.
What This Service Can Help You Discover
DNA matches can reveal relationships that traditional records alone may not uncover. By examining shared matches, family trees, relationship estimates, and documentary evidence, DNA results can be turned into useful clues about your family history.
Understand Your DNA Matches
Organize and analyze your matches to identify groups, shared ancestors, and patterns that may explain how people are related to you.
Confirm Family Relationships
Combine DNA evidence with genealogical records to evaluate suspected relationships and determine whether the evidence supports a particular family connection.
Investigate Unknown Connections
Use DNA matches and family-tree research to investigate unknown grandparents, unexpected relationships, unidentified branches, or other questions revealed by your DNA results.
What’s Included in Your DNA Research
Your project begins with your DNA results, known family information, and a clearly defined research question. I analyze relevant DNA matches alongside traditional genealogical evidence to identify patterns and investigate possible family connections.
Research
DNA Match Analysis
Analysis of relevant matches, shared matches, relationship estimates, and other available DNA information connected to your research question.
Match Grouping & Family Reconstruction
Matches are grouped by likely family lines, and family trees are researched and reconstructed when necessary to determine how those groups may connect to you.
Unit & Historical Research
Historical records and documented family relationships are researched to support, test, or eliminate possible DNA-based connections.
What You Receive
DNA Research Findings
A clear explanation of the significant matches, groups, relationships, and family connections identified during the analysis.
Supporting Genealogical Evidence
Relevant records, family-tree information, and source citations used to evaluate the relationships suggested by the DNA evidence.
Written Research Summary
A documented explanation of the analysis performed, conclusions supported by the available evidence, unresolved questions, and recommended next steps when appropriate.
How the Research Process Works
1
Tell Me What You Want to Discover
Complete the DNA Research Intake with your research question, known family information, DNA testing details, and anything you already know about the matches or relationships you want investigated.
2
I Review the Project
I review your information and research goal to determine whether the available DNA results and genealogical evidence can reasonably address your question, along with the appropriate scope of work and project cost.
3
DNA Research Begins
Once the project is approved, I analyze relevant DNA matches, shared-match patterns, family trees, and genealogical records to investigate possible relationships and family connections.
4
Receive Your Findings
You receive documented findings explaining the DNA evidence, relevant family connections, supporting genealogical research, conclusions, and recommended next steps when appropriate.
See What You'll Receive
Before starting your project, you can view a sample family-history research report to see how findings, records, sources, evidence, and conclusions are presented.
Ready to Understand Your DNA?
Tell me what you’re trying to discover and what DNA testing you have already completed. I’ll review your information and determine the best approach for analyzing your matches and investigating the relationships involved.