Why You Should Hire A Qualified Professional Genealogist...

Have you ever begun tracing your family tree only to reach a brick wall? Or perhaps you've received a family tree by inheritance and are not entirely sure how reliable it is. Whatever stage you are at, be it just starting out or already wading through records or DNA matches, employing the services of a professional genealogist can transform ancestral information from names and dates to life with an accurate, well-documented and meaningful story of your history.

Here are just a few reasons why resorting to an expert is one of the best choices you can make when tracing your family tree.

1. Exposure to Knowledge You Can't Look Up

Trained genealogists have learned the principles of historical research, the analysis of documents, and interpretation of records; adding context to the background of your family research with their experience and knowledge of social history and availability of records. We also understand how to search for and evaluate sources from the local archives, the parish records, the courts, and many others—that are not always online or easily interpretable without the right foundation.

2. Save Time, Avoid Frustration

Tracing your family tree can be an enjoyable, although time-consuming, hobby. It’s far too simple to take the wrong trail or waste hours going through records irrelevant to your ancestors. Professional genealogists have the knowledge to sort through problematic sets of records efficiently and avoid the pitfalls, saving you time and energy.

3. Break Through Brick Walls

Come to a dead end? Genealogists are masters of problem-solving and innovative methodologies for locating lost or overlooked records. We often succeed where regular searches and databases have failed, particularly with troublesome scenarios like illegitimacy, adoption, or name changes.

4. Verify Existing Research

With online family trees and DNA matches gaining popularity by the day, it’s never been easier to get started with genealogy by doing your own family research — sadly, it's also never been easier to make mistakes due to hints and information taken from inaccurate family trees and careless research. A genealogist can review and verify your existing research with proper citations and source evaluation procedures, separating fact from fiction.

5. DNA Interpretation and Match Analysis

DNA testing is a great tool used by genealogists, even when interpreting the matches and what the matches mean is complex! If you have already had a DNA test and are not sure how to make use of it, then a genealogist with expertise regarding genetic genealogy can make the results make sense and turn them towards confirming or enhancing your family tree.

6. Research Tailored to Your Needs

No matter if you want a family tree chart, a bound family history report or help tracing your biological ancestors, genealogists can tailor their work to suit your budget and your aims. We can also deliver your results with panache, with timelines, maps, storybooks, or even personal family history sites.

7. Ethical, Confidential, and Comprehensive

Credible professional genealogists are bound by a code of professionalism, adhere to data protection guidelines and keep all of your information and research findings private, in addition to researching to the highest level. You’re not just buying hours when you hire an expert—you’re investing in well-documented, accurate family history that can be passed down confidently.

Conclusion: A Good Investment!

You don't engage a professional genealogist to take over your research, but rather, complement it. You can be in need of help to get over a research barrier, prove out your family story, or begin from a fresh start with a solid foundation. A professional provides the experience, techniques, and perspective to move your project forward.