STARTING YOUR RESEARCH: THE CONSULTATION

I begin with a free consultation to discuss your genealogical inquiry, problem, or topic of research. In this stage, it is important to share what you already know about the person or persons of interest, and what additional information you are looking for. Based upon the research topic, I may provide additional insight as to what kind of research may be applied, or a potential estimate as to the success rate of information which may be found. The consultation will include a report of potential research strategies and a quote of itemized tasks. From here, a research contract will be signed before the research commences.

If you live in the greater Washington, D.C. area, I am happy to have a consultation in person, in order to personally review research materials you may currently have and inquire further into your topic of research. Please contact me and I can work with you on establishing a meeting point. Please note I do work full-time, but with due notice, I can work around the schedule to make a meeting happen.

For residents outside of the Washington, D.C. area, I am happy to work with you by e-mail in order to help you! I can be reached at bsburns1985@gmail.com for all research inquiries. Please add “Research Inquiry…” in the headline or title of the e-mail so that I can properly and efficiently respond to your messages (I do not readily respond to messages for research from hobbyist genealogists who are not willing to pay for services, hence why I ask for the headline). If you are already certain of what kind of research you wish for me to address, you may fill out a research inquiry here and submit to my e-mail address.

Template – Genealogical Research Inquiry

Template – Contract for Genealogical Research

PACKAGES

FAMILY TREE PACKAGE (10 Hours) – $500

  • This package is good for scanning and reviewing your ancestry and creating family trees. The family trees will include names, dates, and places. The hours includes the time it will take to research the tree. A report of sources will accompany the report. The family trees are generated on Family Tree Maker and can be made in a variety of styles, and can also be digitally submitted or printed and mailed.  This package will generally cover 7-8 generations of the lineage but this is subject to the availability of records and research.
    • Please note that some lineages are already well-researched while others may be new genealogical frontiers. Not all lineages are created equal! There will certainly be road blocks!
    • At the end of 10 hours, a progress report will be delivered to the client. If the client desires any additional research spent on any part of the tree, to go back further, additional time will be required.
    • Additional hourly rate (for additional research after 10 hours): $50 per hour
    • Hard copies of the family trees and reports, if desired, will be subject to printing costs on top of the package fee.

ANALYTICAL PROJECTS

Wanting to focus on one part of your family tree and answer some questions? Are you trying to solve a puzzle, such as proving a migration of a generation in your ancestry, proving a relationship from Person A to Person B, or trying to fill out biographical details for one/two generations of your lineage? An analytical project may be your answer. These projects do not scan your entire tree but are more focused to 1-3 generations of your tree, working to answer more specific questions. These projects involve a full scan of records and may result in a lengthy and detailed report of results, along with images and copies of records and a list of references.

  • Review of the problem – 3 hours ($150)
    • Have an inquiry but not sure whether it may be answerable? Consult with me regarding the situation and I’ll look into the records and determine if an answer may be delivered. This option saves the client from spending money on a full project with no results. Recommended for persons who want some insight on a genealogical problem!
  • Basic Analytical Project Package – 10 hours ($500)
    • Recommended if your project hones in on less than 5 generations of your lineage
  • Full Analytical Project Package – 20 hours ($1,000)
    • Recommended if your project involves more than 5 generations of the lineage
  • Extensions
    • Once the package is complete and further research is desired (after consultation), the hourly rate is $50.
  • If hard copies of documents are desired, the same will be subject to printing costs on top of the package fees.

DESCENDANTS PROJECT

Want to learn about extended family and kinship through a common ancestor? This package will put together a genealogical report of descendants from an ancestor. The packages are based upon the number of generations to include in the report, beginning from the common ancestor. The basic report will include names, dates, and places, as well as a full list of references; advanced reports will include biographies and details on each person, and copies of documents and records will be included. Basic rate is $50/hour. Physical copies of any records provided (if hard copies are desired) will be $0.50/document.

  • Basic Descendants Project – names, dates, places, marriages, children of each marriage, some select details, full references.
  • Advanced Descendants Project – names, dates, places, marriages, children of each marriage, full biographies for each family group, full references.

Want me to make a book of the descendants of your ancestor? Contact me regarding the ancestor and the number of generations, as well as the extent of information and detail desired on the report and the tree. The costs of this project will be dependent on the detail desired, as well as the number of hours to be spent (based on the number of generations to research and include) and the costs of printing the book. The same hourly rate will apply for this project ($50/hour).

THE PROCESS AND A RUNDOWN OF THE SERVICES

  • The client can choose any of the basic packages above if he/she already knows what information is desired.
  • Unsure what package suits you? Contact me and ask! A custom project can always be made!
  • Once an agreement is made, a research contract will outline the amount of time the client wishes to reimburse the genealogist. The genealogist will properly inform the client when the research will begin and end. It will be understood by the client the start time for any given project will be based upon the availability of the genealogist. The duration of the project will depend on the genealogical inquiry and the type of research required. The genealogist will use the best judgment in exercising the amount of research time; should additional research be considered, the genealogist will outline these suggestions in a separate report (which will be furnished to the client upon completion of the report).
  • For packages, one half of the total cost of the package is required to be paid to the genealogist before the project commences (example: for a $500 package, $250 is required at the beginning). The other half is required to be paid upon receipt of the materials at the end of the project.
  • Extensions to any project can be considered at the end of any project (after the genealogist consults with the client). Extensions are $50 per research hour.
  • Print reports, travel, shipping costs, etc. are all additional costs to any research project and are not included in the research hour costs. The client will be notified of any such costs prior to any printing, mailing, etc., or if any travel for research is required or needed.
  • The client must know that genealogical research does not always result with the desired answers…genealogy is subject to the availability of records, and most importantly, the loss of records. The client will still be informed of all results at the close of the project timeline. The client shall understand that there is no change in price or rates or refunds for negative evidence; the genealogist will still provide a report of inventory of repositories and sources checked.
  • Clients who wish to add on additional research projects after an initial project is completed are welcomed to inquire. The client will still be required to pay the fee up front before a project commences (the rate depending upon the agreed extension), plus all additional research costs and expenditures once the project is completed.

In regards to payment for any project, I prefer electronic methods such as PayPal (bsburns1985@gmail.com) or Venmo (@Brendon-Burns). If these methods are unsuitable for you, I do accept checks (address to be provided upon request). Projects will begin once the check is received.

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS

LINEAGE SOCIETIES

I have worked for lineage societies, and as a result I am experienced in the rigor of research required for submitting an application for a lineage society. Arranging the documentation is an important step in preparing the application, and having the right amount of documentation and the right types of documentation will make your success rate even higher. Looking to join the Mayflower Society, GSW1812, or Sons of the Revolution? Wanting to try and connect yourself to a patriot, or try to establish residence or services for a particular ancestor? Contact me and let me be of assistance!

  • The research fee is $50/hr, with a minimum of 3 hours ($150) as a retainer fee up-front. Extensions can be added after the 3 hours are spent by adding 2-hour increments ($100), depending on how much work remains to be completed.
  • The project will result in a lineage report with a list of the sources used, and copies of all documents used to produce and prove the lineage. A mailing address will be necessary for this type of project (for clients who do not live within the Washington, D.C. area).
  • Please note that lineage societies require copies of vital records (i.e. birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, etc.) for the first few generations of the lineage. There are restrictions in most areas in obtaining copies of these records, many of them restricting access to copies to immediate family members. Clients must understand that these will be necessary to obtain on behalf of the client, but the genealogist can provide instructions on how and where to obtain vital record copies if assistance is needed.
  • Please note: DAR and SAR lineage applications are completed by the chapters themselves! While I may be of assistance for researching your family towards an ancestor who performed service, I cannot put together applications for DAR or SAR societies.

TRANSCRIPTIONS

Need a deed, will, court record, or any other type of historical document transcribed or abstracted? I am available to transcribe any document (in English) as is needed or required for easier reading. The client will need to furnish a legible copy of the document in order for a proper transcription or abstract. All transcriptions are $10 per document. Contact me at bsburns1985@gmail.com with the topic headline “Document Transcription…” and a description of your request. If the original document is to be virtually submitted, please note that I work from a Windows 10 laptop, with Microsoft Office 2016 applications. PDF files are acceptable, but files must be able to be opened and viewed by Windows applications.

COURT RESEARCH

Need a copy of a deed, court record, or will or probate record from a local courthouse? I am able to help based upon my availability. Please contact me at bsburns1985@gmail.com with the topic headline “Court Research…” and explain what is needed. I charge my usual research rate of $50/hr, plus travel costs and any printing copies (if documents are found); most searches do not take the full hour, unless there are multiple requests. I have access to the following courthouses:

  • Arlington County, Virginia
  • Alexandria, Virginia
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Fairfax County, Virginia
  • Loudoun County, Virginia
  • Prince William County, Virginia
  • Montgomery County, Maryland
  • Prince Georges County, Maryland

For other counties in the area, please note that the mileage costs will be included and are based upon a gas mileage calculator (I use this site). Travel to other counties, such as Frederick, Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Charles, and Calvert Counties in Maryland, and Clarke, Frederick, Fauquier, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Culpeper, Fredericksburg, and King George Counties in Virginia are possible, but please note all trips will begin from Arlington, Virginia (please note the travel costs!).

Feel free to contact me at bsburns1985@gmail.com regarding your research projects and ideas. Or feel free to fill out the form below for additional information: