General Information 

For both hourly or research projects, we will setup a consultation meeting to find out what your research goals are for your family history. We will discuss your project, gather background information you have currently, and then discuss the rest of the project so we are clear on expectations and timelines. If you choose to use my service, then I will move forward with your research. 

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 At the conclusion of the research, I will provide the client with:​​

• all researched information and records in family tree software

• citation of each source used during research

• provide a log of my research

• provide digital copies of all records found for your family

• provide client with digital fan charts, ancestor charts, and family history reports of research

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Research resources most likely to used: 

• Ancestry.com – large collection of online genealogical sources from around the world. 

• Newspapers.com – large collection of newspapers indexed online from the United States and around the world. 

• Fold3.com – collection of military records from the United States, including civil war pension files or indexes

• Familysearch.com – large collection of online genealogical sources from around the world.

• local repositories and libraries

• Other regional and local online sources – depending on the county, state, or country there are online databases available to search for records for ancestors. 

• I will customize which sources the client feels are most important as I continue to research their family.

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Disclaimer: Genealogy is not always clean and easy. Due to immigration, record loss, record errors, fires, natural disasters, etc., not all ancestors can be determined or located. If there are significant issues with finding multiple ancestors, the researcher (Tim Foley) will contact the client in an effort to find a solution (further research back on certain ancestral lines, partial refund, ending the project early, etc.). 

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Hourly Research 

Research will be conducted and paid for in five-hour blocks ($200 or $40/hour).

• Free consultation in-person or online to determine research goals/next steps

• Five-hour blocks allow the client and myself to communicate on next steps as the research progresses.

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Travel Stipend – If a trip to a library, archive, cemetery, or local court house around the Midwest would be helpful, I would propose a travel stipend in addition to the hourly rate. Travel stipend would cover the cost of travel (typically gas, food, and lodging). Client would have full approval of travel before any travel is taken. 

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Why Hourly Research?

• You need help with a difficult genealogy problem

• You are interested in finding out just some basic information about your ancestors

• You would like a researcher to help you get started with your research before taking over yourself

• You would like to help direct the research as it progresses

• You want to see what is available for your ancestors before paying for a full research project

 

Research Projects

(Great unique gift for a spouse or parent):

$1500 package

Includes a complete research project of a client’s ancestors:

• Covers all findable ancestors of source person. 

• Typically 30-60 ancestors – parents, grandparents, great grandparents, gg grandparents or further back if needed. 

• Project is equal to at least 40 hours of research.

• My most recently completed project included over 100 hours of research and over 150 ancestors of the source person. 

• If roadblocks present challenges to reaching at least 40 hours of research, the fee will be reduced. 

 

Complete research projects include: 

• research of each ancestor and their immediate children (1 generation of children for each ancestor) which can be found/authenticated

• documentation in a genealogy software program with transferable files to any genealogy software program

• research collected and given to client files that can be read in any web browser

• citation of each source used during research

• digital color fan chart of each client including all generations of ancestors

• digital or hard copy records of all ancestors and children (when those records are available)

• provide a log of my research

 

Why Should I Buy a Research Project?

• You are looking for a special gift for a spouse, parent, sibling, friend, or yourself

• You are interested in your family history but do not want to spend money on subscriptions and computer programs that can be tricky to navigate.

• You want to know about your family history, but do not have the time or expertise to do the research

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Payment Method for Research Projects: 

I will accept cash, check, or venmo for payments. 

Hourly research: first $200 due after our initial consult and signing of agreement. 

 

Research projects: $500 due after our initial consult and you are ready to proceed. The remaining balance will be split into two payments: $500 at our check-in meeting (half way through the project) and $500 at the conclusion of the project before any documentation, records, etc. are handed over. 

 

Disclaimer: Genealogy is not always clean and easy. Due to immigration, record loss, record errors, fires, natural disasters, etc., not all ancestors can be determined or located. If there are significant issues with finding multiple ancestors, the researcher will contact the client in an effort to find a solution (further research back on certain lines, partial refund, etc.).