Fact Sheet

Family history research is, by its nature, quite a personal undertaking and is tailored to suit a clients individual needs. For example, some clients want their entire family researched, while others have been conducting their own research and find they need help with just one line of their family. Of course there are other avenues of research clients may want explored, however, this "Fact Sheet" is an attempt to answer some questions common to everyone wanting to trace any aspect of their Family History:

	The kind of information and material I will need from you in order to evaluate and plan your particular research requirements

Details of the fees involved to conduct your research

How long will the research take

For all types of research enquiries, please try to include a pedigree chart, (commercially printed, computer generated or hand drawn), showing the line(s) in question, completed to the point you have reached in your research. It doesn't matter if you only have "scattered" details for each person, but please PRINT CLEARLY and ensure if you do have details, you have filled them in. Be sure to show women’s MAIDEN names if you know them. Pedigree charts only show direct ancestors. (parents, grandparents, great grandparents etc).

You may not have any of the following, but if you do, please include:

	PHOTOCOPIES of any certificates you have relating to the person, or people, you want researched shown on your pedigree chart.

	PHOTOCOPIES, or a list, of any other important documents / letters / newspaper  clippings etc., which you may have accumulated, relating to the person or people you want researched.

	If you, or someone else, has already conducted related research, please tell me what research has been done. You do not want me to tell you what you already know, although it may sometimes be necessary for me to re-check prior research.

Research Payment Form    (in Acrobat Reader format)

The initial payment allows me to :

	Evaluate the problem or information supplied by you.

	Determine a course of research.

	Conduct preliminary research.

	Write a report furnishing you with the details of my findings, including source references; suggestions of how to proceed; and an estimation of any further time/costs likely to be required.

	Provide an invoice detailing time/expense used in research and reporting. Any unused portion of the fee is held in credit in your name and used for your future research costs. Alternately, at your request, any remaining credit balance will be reimbursed to you.

The above mentioned fees do not include the costs of photocopying documents; costs of certificate purchase or postage, they are charged separately. I will not purchase any certificates / documents etc., at any time until I have received your authority and payment to do so. In this way you are aware of what costs are involved IN ADVANCE.

It is important you understand that there may be time spent searching records without any positive result. I realise it can be extremely annoying when this happens, but it is a part of the reality of researching past lives. Sometimes your ancestor will not have left an easy trail to follow, but this will not be known until the search has been made. Naturally this time must be paid for and will be shown, along with details of the records and resources which gave negative results, in my report to you.

After the initial consultation you may choose to proceed immediately and have the research conducted in full, or to pace the research according to your budget. Either way you will receive detailed reports and invoices at each stage of the research. Most importantly, YOU will be in control of which documents/certificates etc. are purchased, as well as how and when YOUR money is used.

The relevant authorities set fees for the purchase of certificates; photocopying of documents; postage etc. (i.e. archive offices; public libraries; Registrar of Birth, Deaths & Marriages and Australia Post etc.). These costs vary from state to state and between libraries and archive offices. When these costs are incurred in your research they will be passed on to you.

I always try to report my findings within four to six weeks of receiving both your initial information and any further research enquiry. Should there be any delay, for whatever reason, I will contact you.

I hope I have answered all of your questions, however if after reading this "Fact Sheet" you have any questions remaining, or wish to have any of the above explained in further detail, please contact me. I look forward to helping you with your research, and assure you of my prompt attention and confidentiality.