How to Hire a Genealogist
Can’t I just save money by researching my family history myself?
A genealogist brings their expertise to the table. Professional genealogists have spent years refining their skills by researching their own family tree as well as their clients’ family histories. They usually know exactly where to go if you get stuck trying to uncover your family’s past. If you hit a brick wall, a genealogist can help!
A Professional Genealogist Knows Where to Look if You Get Stuck Trying to Find Ancestors.
Geography also plays a factor. Many, many records are not cataloged online. If you live in California and are trying to find a record on Great Grandma Harriett in Brooklyn, NY, it can be too expensive to travel. Hiring a genealogist in New York can get the records you need and save you money. While living in New York, a client hired me to locate their relative’s headstone in a cemetery in Staten Island since they lived out of state. When I got to the cemetery, I had a little trouble finding it. The front office pointed me to the area where the headstone was supposed to be, but, I couldn’t find it. It turns out, the location was documented incorrectly. I was able to locate their ancestor’s resting place through a bit of detective work. I got a picture of the headstone and informed the front office of the error which they happily fixed! Oh yeah, I slipped on some ice (it was the dead of winter) and banged my knee (occupational hazard), but, I was okay. So you don’t have to worry about getting injured either. :)
You need patience and time. You don’t have to learn to be a genealogist. Most genealogists love doing this. If you don’t have the patience, you might not find what you’re looking for.. If a genealogist gets stuck, they have resources they can go to. Sometimes genealogists consult with other genealogists.
Genealogists Know How to Decipher Handwriting in Old Records.
Websites like ancestry.com can aid you in your search and you can potentially find documents backing up your family history, but, you can still hit a brick wall. Furthermore, Ancestry’s leaf recommendations aren’t always accurate and you could very well be researching someone else’s family.
Then of course, there are freelancing websites like Fiverr.com. They have low pricing, but, genealogists and many other professionals like graphic designers, video editors, etc don’t last on this site because Fiverr takes a whopping 20% commission. Plus, the freelancer with the lowest price often gets the most work. This creates high turnover making it hard to know who to trust on this site.
Hire a Professional Genealogist
If you’re not keen on uncovering your family tree yourself, but, still want to find out more about your past, a genealogist can help. Charges range from $40 to $00 per hour for fees to do research. Plus, you may have to pay for records, travel costs. For the Staten Island example I gave above, I had to cross the Verrazano Bridge in order to get the info my client hired me to do.
Please also know that hiring a professional genealogist does not mean you will get guaranteed results! Some countries, cultures, do not document and often many documents have been discarded over time.
Even if a genealogist cannot find the ancestor you’re looking for, you should get a report listing all the searches done and resources that were used to find your ancestor.
If you want help finding your ancestors, contact me with any info you have. You can also get started with your order today. This is my passion and I would love to help!