Research, Advice, and Clinics

Go to Heritage Family History Research Packages

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Personally Tailored Research including searches for Living Relatives:

Price: £20 an hour plus expenses.

I specialise in research in Kent and London but research can also be undertaken for other parts of the UK. I also specialise in tracing the family history of adopted people and tracing living relatives. I have personal experience in this sensitive and often emotional field of research. If you are adopted and wish me to try to trace your birth relatives with a view to possibly getting in touch with them, I am very happy to discuss this in detail with you so that you have a clear idea of what it involves.

I offer a free fifteen-minute assessment by telephone or email for all potential clients. Many clients wish to know how much their research will cost in advance. In most cases it is difficult to be precise about costs as each case is unique. Although I will give you a rough indication of the likely costs, I may suggest that your research is conducted in stages so that costs can be regularly reviewed and approved by you. I ask all clients to stipulate a limit to the amount of money they wish to spend, inclusive of expenses, in order to avoid misunderstandings. If your research is nineteenth century family history research one of my research packages may suit you.

Once I have competed the required research I will send you a report of what I have found and, where appropriate, a family tree. You can then decide whether you would like me to continue your research and we can discuss a further plan of action.

If you are interested in commissioning me to research for you then please contact me with the following details:

What you would like me to research.
Details of what you know so far including any dates or places of birth, marriage and death.
Full details of any research that has already been done.
What your goals are.

Please make sure that you have read my Research Terms and Conditions Document. By commissioning me you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.

To contact me concerning personally tailored research telephone me on 01797 344376 or email me at: celia@heritagefamilyhistory.co.uk

Heritage Family History Research Packages

The advantage of the research packages is that you know in advance exactly how much the research will cost. The packages are only suitable for nineteenth and early twentieth century standard family history research. There are two packages to choose from, but if you would like something different e.g. a greater number of generations researched, please do ask. I may be able to adjust the package to suit you or I may recommend personally tailored research for your requirements based on my hourly rate.

Starter Package £195

One branch of your direct ancestral line traced back two generations. Click here to see a typical "branch" of a family tree.

You will receive the following:

Copies of birth and marriage certificates for two generations of your family. Please note that I will buy certificates for two generations of your tree but the information gained from these will provide information on a further generation as illustrated in the family tree above.
Copies of census returns.
A family tree of your direct ancestors on your chosen branch similar to the example above.
A short report of the research conducted and what was found.

You choose the format in which you wish to receive your final documents: paper, CD or email. All postal deliveries will be via Royal Mail Special Delivery, unless you specify otherwise.

Advanced Package £395

One branch of your family tree traced back two generations, but more widely researched to include details of other family members, such as siblings, and details of each direct ancestor's death where possible, plus a description of the social and economic conditions of the environment in which your ancestor lived.

You will receive the following:

Copies of birth, marriage and death certificates for direct ancestors. Please note that I will buy certificates for two generations of your tree but the information gained from these will provide information on a further generation as illustrated in the family tree above. In some cases it may not be possible to locate a death certificate for each person.
Copies of census returns.
A full report not only of the research conducted and what was found, but also including details of the locality where your family lived, the social and economic conditions your family would have experienced and the jobs they did.
Two different types of family tree. 1. A family tree of your direct ancestors as in the example for the Starter Package, but including death details where possible. 2. One or more descendancy style family trees from each set of ancestors showing all known descendants (so including all known siblings). Click here for example of descendancy tree for the Advanced Package.
Depending on what I find out about your family, you may also receive extra copies of other miscellaneous documents such as extracts from trade directories or from professional registers.

You choose the format in which you wish to receive your final documents: paper, CD or email. All postal deliveries will be via Royal Mail Special Delivery unless you specify otherwise.
Please note:
- If it is not possible to trace your family back two generations you will be refunded a percentage of the total package price based on the number of hours and costs accumulated. Alternatively you may ask for the remaining credit to be used researching another branch of your family.
- The family trees we produce are not presentation- style family trees. They will be on A4 paper and may cover more than one sheet. They will not be joined together in any way if they cover more than one sheet. If you are interested in a presentation-style family tree on one large piece of paper please ask and we will obtain a quotation for you.
Before buying a package please read my Research Terms and Conditions Document

Heritage Family History Gift Vouchers
Gift vouchers for Heritage Family History research services are available for any amount from £50 upwards. Please email for details: info@heritagefamilyhistory.co.uk.
Payment
For payment methods please read my Research Terms and Conditions Document

Online Advice. Hourly Rate: £20

Make sure you send me clear details of what your question is and, if appropriate, what you have already done to try and solve your problem. If you have already searched the Internet for whatever you are looking for, please specify which websites you have used. After all I don't want to waste your money telling you to look in places or to try things which you have already tried! If your query takes less than an hour you will be charged for the proportion of the hour worked to the nearest 15 minutes. Payment options are the same as for the Personal Research service above. For Online Advice please email me at:celia@heritagefamilyhistory.co.uk

Head-to-Head Clinics: £35 an hour or £45 for an hour and a half.

If you are a more experienced researcher and would like to discuss the research you have already done and ways to tackle any problems you are experiencing in person, a head-to-head clinic may be what you need. Bring along the research you have done so far and we will discuss it together and take a look at where you can go from there. I also offer private lessons for the same price. Whether you are a beginner or more experienced I offer sessions lasting between one and two hours and tailored to your individual needs.
for a Head-to-Head Clinic or private tuition sessions telephone me on 01797 344376 or email me at: celia@heritagefamilyhistory.co.uk

Surname Interpretation - price £10

Do you want to know where your surname originates or what it means? Many websites offer a free surname look-up. However these are often very basic and do not allow for the fact that the origin of some surnames are lost in the mists of time and cannot be summed up in one sentence. Using a combination of linguistics, etymology and a study of local records means that, for most, I am able to give an indication of the original meaning (in some cases there may be more than one possibility) and in many cases a precise definition. Note: this is purely an advisory service for those who are curious in the meaning of their surname - you will not receive a printed certificate with your surname on. Contact me with details of the name you would like interpreted on: celia@heritagefamilyhistory.co.uk Where possible the expected turnaround time is ten days.