FAQ

I’ve been actively researching family history for over 30 years, starting with my own ancestors and expanding into professional work helping others. Over the decades, I’ve specialized in German-American and Early American families, solved long-standing brick walls, and traced family legends back to their roots.

Yes. I hold a B.A. in International Studies with a Minor in American History, which gave me a strong foundation in historical research, cultural analysis, and working with records across borders. Combined with decades of hands-on genealogical research, this helps me interpret not just the who and when of your ancestors, but also the broader historical forces that shaped their lives.

If you’re just starting out and want to build a well-documented family tree, I can help through the Family Lineage service. If you’re stuck on a missing ancestor or conflicting record, my Brick Wall service is designed to tackle tough problems. And if you want to verify a family story or legend, the Oral History service focuses on separating fact from myth. I also specialize in German-American and Early American research, tying families to their broader historical context.

Getting started is simple. Just share what you already know — names, dates, places, and any family stories or documents you may have. If you keep a family tree on Ancestry, FamilySearch, or another platform, you can provide access, but it’s not required. The more information you provide upfront, the more efficient and targeted the research will be.

The 3-hour preliminary research package focuses on digitized records available online or through major genealogy databases. This ensures I can provide a timely evaluation of your family story or research question. If non-digitized or physical records (such as courthouse files or local archives) are needed, I’ll note them in your evaluation and recommend next steps, but they cannot be obtained within the initial 3-hour package.

Each project includes collected documentation (copies of original records), an evidence summary explaining how the records fit together, and a polished narrative report. You’ll also receive recommendations for next steps if more research is possible.

The preliminary research package is $100 for 3 hours. If you’d like to continue beyond that, additional research is billed at $50/hour, and I’ll always get your approval before proceeding.

Timelines vary depending on the scope of your project and the accessibility of records. The 3-hour preliminary investigation is typically completed within 2–3 weeks. Larger projects may take longer, but I’ll provide updates and expected timelines as part of your evaluation.

No genealogist can guarantee specific discoveries, since records depend on survival, accessibility, and accuracy. What I guarantee is a professional, thorough search with clear documentation of what was found — and what wasn’t. Even negative searches are valuable for ruling out possibilities.

I don’t provide word-for-word translations. However, I specialize in interpreting older German handwriting styles (such as Kurrent and Fraktur) to extract key genealogical details like names, dates, and places.

Yes. My Family Oral History service focuses specifically on testing family stories against the historical record, separating fact from myth and preserving the results in a documented narrative.

While my specialties are German-American and Early American research, I also work with a wide range of U.S. records and can sometimes assist with other regions. If your project falls outside my scope, I’ll let you know upfront.

You’ll receive digital files (PDF reports, document scans, and evidence summaries). If you’d like a print-ready format, I can prepare one at no extra cost. Keepsake options are also available for oral history projects.

I do not take on purely DNA-based projects such as adoption or unknown parentage cases, since those often involve sensitive and complex situations. My focus is on documentary research, where records provide the foundation of your family history. However, for longstanding clients with whom I’ve worked on multiple projects, I may consider using DNA results as a supporting tool to help confirm relationships already suggested by the paper trail.

All billing is handled securely through PayPal, which allows you to pay with a PayPal balance, debit card, credit card, or linked bank account. This gives you flexibility while keeping transactions safe. At this time, I primarily use PayPal, but if you would prefer to pay by check or money order, please contact me to discuss arrangements in advance.

You do. All reports, documents, and findings are yours to keep and use as you wish. I retain only a copy for my records unless you ask me to delete it.