Basic Questions About Hiring a Professional Genealogist
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CONNIE LENZEN, Certified Genealogist
10411 SW 41st Avenue Portland, OR 97219-6984 E-mail: clenzen@dialoregon.net |
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"How much will you charge to research my family history?" That is a question that I hear at least once a month. I'll sidestep the answer to that question for just a moment and talk about the research process. Break down the project into manageable pieces. We all want to know everything about our ancestors, but we need to break the project down into manageable chunks. It's similar to doing a house remodel. Most of us must budget our funds, and we do projects in phases. We break down the family history project by selecting research questions. For instance, do you want to know where and when an ancestor was born? Do you want to know who were an ancestor's parents? You hire me because I can break down your project into those manageable pieces. Select sources with the answers to our research questions. The next step is to decide what sources will contain the information to answer the question. You hire me because I know where the information is located. I also know how to get around record limitations. For instance, if your ancestor was born in 1901 in Clackamas County, Oregon, there will be no birth certificate. Other sources must be used. (See my article about nineteenth century Oregon births.) You hire me because I know the other sources that can be used to prove kinship. Analyze the information. When a source is identified and obtained, the next step of the research process is to analyze the information that it contains. When there is no direct evidence that answers the research question, there is a bit of "reading between the lines," collecting other information, and connecting the historical, social, and legal aspects of the times to come up with an answer. You hire me because I can do analyze the information for you. How much does research cost? Each research request is different. Each one takes a different amount of time, and you are buying my time and expertise. You hire me because I can do your research accurately and effectively. |
The Bottom Line:
| Contact me for my hourly rate which includes the time spent on analysis of the problem, the research, the evaluation, and the report. Travel outside the Portland area is charged at the hourly rate. |
| I'll look at your research question. If I can help you, I will send an agreement form. If I can't help you, I'll refer you to someone else. Click here to see what an agrement form looks like. |
| Research is to be conducted in blocks of time. The first payment is to be received before the research is conducted. After that, you may authorize additional blocks of time. I will do the work and bill you. |
| Please contact me via e-mail or postal mail. I enjoy talking to people on the telephone, but it is difficult to take accurate notes. Be as specific as possible about your research request. Tell me what are your goals and what you have already done. |