Assessment
A free 30-minute assessment is provided to all new customers during which your current knowledge, requirements and research focus will be determined.
Fees
My standard charge is £25 per hour plus expenses for historical research throughout England, Scotland and Wales, and for genealogical research in England and Wales. Under this rate, research parameters will be agreed with you, the research carried out and a report compiled. On completion, I will invoice you and email the research report in PDF format on receipt of payment. Blocks of research can be purchased in advance in approximate 5-hourly segments (these will include mileage and other costs incurred) and we can discuss how to proceed after each block is completed.
Genealogical research can be carried out throughout England and Wales from 1837 onwards (the start of civil registration). Before this date, my main area of expertise is north west England and the historic counties of Lancashire, Westmorland and Cumberland.
1837 Genealogical Packages require payment in advance. If any certificates are unobtainable as part of package, the cost of those certificates will be refunded. A family tree is provided with all types of genealogical research.
My oral history package also requires payment in advance.
Expenses
Travel costs to several county archives within the primary research area of Lancashire, Westmorland and Cumberland are included in the research fee. These are: Preston, Barrow-in-Furness, Kendal, Whitehaven and Carlisle.
All other travel costs are charged at 45p per mile. Overnight stays are charged at cost of reasonable accommodation.
Photography
Travel costs to each location are charged at 45p per mile. Photography is charged at the usual hourly rate. Photographs will be sent to you by an online transfer medium.
Quotes
If your research needs expand beyond north west England, travel to the area and accommodation will be fully costed and a quote prepared for you. Travel whilst in the area will not be charged unless journeys over 50 miles are undertaken: these will be discussed with you in advance and invoiced on completion of research. On agreement, this quote will be paid in full in advance.
Research costs will follow the usual procedure whereby the number of hours will be agreed in advance, research carried out, a report compiled and an invoice sent. On payment of the invoice, the research report will be sent to you.
Other Costs
Additional costs are charged for:
- Civil Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates from 1837 onwards: £11 each (PDFs: £7 each)
- Post-1858 English & Welsh Wills, Grants of Probate and Administrations: £1.50 each
- 1921 Census entries: £3.50 each
- Photocopying: dependent on pricing at individual archive
- Postage: standard Royal Mail postage, Signed For or Special Delivery as requested
- Printing: rates to be agreed
- Entry fees: as per fee
- Parking fees: as per fee
Please be aware that all research must be paid for, even if the results are not as hoped. The vagaries of historical record keeping means that sometimes records have been lost, destroyed or from the information they provide cannot produce definitive conclusions.
