The process
Every engagement follows the same methodical path — disciplined, documented, and honest about what the records can show.
Our approach
Every engagement follows the same disciplined path — each step building the evidence for the next — so you always know where your project stands and why.
The nine steps
From your first question to a professional report, here is exactly how an engagement unfolds.
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Step 01 / 09
Initial Consultation
You contact us with a research question, family mystery, probate matter, or ancestry project. We review the information and discuss the objectives.
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Step 02 / 09
Preliminary Assessment
We evaluate the availability of records, potential research pathways, and the scope of work required.
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Step 03 / 09
Research Proposal & Quote
We prepare a research plan outlining objectives, methodology, estimated timeline, and project cost. Once approved, research begins.
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Step 04 / 09
Archival & Documentary Research
We examine civil registrations, church, school, land, court, cemetery records, newspapers, and other historical sources.
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Step 05 / 09
Field Research & Community Investigation
Where needed, on-the-ground visits to local archives, communities, family compounds, cemeteries, churches, and schools.
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Step 06 / 09
Oral History Interviews
We interview family members, community elders, and local historians to gather traditions that written records can't hold.
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Step 07 / 09
Analysis & Verification
All evidence is carefully analysed and cross-referenced to ensure accuracy and identify reliable connections.
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Step 08 / 09
Report Preparation
Findings are compiled into a professional research report documenting the evidence, conclusions, and recommendations.
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Step 09 / 09
Delivery of Results
You receive the relevant deliverables, tailored to your project.
What you receive
At the end of an engagement you receive a documented record of the work — and everything we found.
Getting started
The more you can share at the outset, the faster we can focus the research.
Your objective
The question you want answered — an ancestor to find, a lineage to document, a probate matter, or a reconnection.
What you already know
Names, dates, places, and family stories, however partial. Every detail is a thread we can pull.
Any documents
Certificates, letters, photographs, or records already in the family's hands.
Consent
Permission to research living relatives and to handle personal information with care.
Typical timeline
Most projects complete within four to six weeks, depending on complexity, record availability, and the depth of fieldwork involved.
What to expect
We make every effort to be thorough, but results cannot be guaranteed. Record availability varies significantly across regions and time periods — some lines can be traced for generations, others reach a documented limit.
We tell you what’s realistic before you commit, and we stay candid throughout about what the evidence can and cannot establish.
Book a consultation and we'll map out your project's first step.
Book a consultation