Start Your Family Tree with Confidence

Beginning your genealogy journey can feel overwhelming—where do you even start when all you have are a few names or scattered stories? At RootSource Research, I specialize in helping people who are just getting started. With experience in early American, Midwestern, Eastern U.S., and German-American genealogy, I know how to take even the smallest detail and use it as the foundation for uncovering your family’s story.

What This Service Includes

When you choose Family Lineage research, you’ll receive more than just a list of names. I focus on building a well-documented and accurate foundation for your family history using primary source records and sound genealogical methods. Here’s what you can expect:

  • Vital Records Research – Birth, marriage, and death certificates that establish family relationships and confirm life events.

  • Census Records – U.S. census data to trace families across decades, reveal household members, and place ancestors within their communities.

  • Church & Parish Registers – Baptism, marriage, and burial records, especially valuable in early American and German research.

  • Land & Probate Records – Deeds, wills, and estate files that provide insight into property ownership, inheritance, and migration.

  • Immigration & Naturalization Records – Passenger lists and citizenship records that document journeys to America and settlement.

Every discovery is carefully documented with full citations, so you can be confident in the accuracy and reliability of your growing family tree.

You’ll Receive

GEDCOM File – A downloadable file of your family tree you can import into genealogy programs or sites (Ancestry, MyHeritage, Family Tree Maker, etc.).

Full Source Citations – References for every record used, so your research is verifiable.

Digital Copies of Key Records – Where available, images of census pages, vital records, or other documents.

Pricing

At RootSource Research, I keep pricing straightforward and transparent so you know exactly what to expect.

Preliminary Research Package – $100

  • 3 hours of research focused on building the foundation of your family tree.

  • A GEDCOM file of your documented lineage to date.

  • Supporting documents and images (such as census records, certificates, or parish entries) when available.

  • An evaluation report including:

    • Additional time estimates for deeper research.

    • An assessment of the likelihood of uncovering further information based on available sources.

Additional Research – $50/hour

If you’d like to continue beyond the initial three hours, additional research is billed at $50 per hour.

  • All additional work will be guided by the time estimate provided in your evaluation report.

  • Research will never exceed the agreed-upon time limit without your prior approval.

Ready to Uncover Your Family's Story?

Embark on a journey through time with RootSource Research. Discover the rich tapestry of your ancestry and preserve your family’s legacy. Contact us now to begin your exploration.

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