FAQs about our genealogy research services
How much do you charge?
Mountain State Genealogy’s fee schedule is determined by the type of project.
Genealogical Research projects, including DNA research projects, are billed at an hourly rate and researched in twenty-hour blocks.
- The initial retainer is due before genealogy research begins and equals 50% of the authorized hours. For clients with existing family research, the retainer covers reviewing your prior work and creating a personalized genealogy research plan. New clients with no previous research receive a free initial consultation by phone or email, after which the retainer applies to developing your custom research strategy. Any unused retainer funds are applied to your actual research hours.
- Additional genealogy research expenses, when necessary, are billed separately and due upon receipt. These may include travel costs (mileage and parking), document fees for copies or original records, and repository entrance fees. Client approval is required for any expenses exceeding $50
What do I need to provide to you?
If you are new to genealogy and have no prior research, we’ll need to start with you and work backward. If you already have a research question, skip to step three.
- Gather what you know about your family and decide on a research question.
- Contact me to discuss your project. If you don’t have a specific question in mind, I can help you formulate a research goal.
- Once a goal has been identified, a letter of agreement will be sent to you for your signature.
How long will it take to start on my project?
Current scheduling availability is approximately two months. Contact me today to reserve your spot for professional genealogy research.
How long can I expect to wait for a report?
Every genealogy research project is unique, making timeline estimates challenging. Repository closures or limited access can also affect project duration. However, these general guidelines apply:
- Brick wall ancestors require extensive genealogy research and analysis since easily found records would not create a ‘brick wall.’ These challenging cases typically need on-site repository work beyond online databases. A minimum of twenty hours is recommended for brick wall genealogy projects.
- Lineage society applications can often involve as much research and analysis as a brick wall ancestor project; therefore, it is recommended that a minimum of twenty hours be purchased. If the full twenty hours are not used, the remainder may be applied to a future research project or refunded to the client.
- Traditional genealogy research projects involving a question regarding a targeted individual can often be completed within four hours, however, there is no guarantee of the outcome within that timeframe, and an additional block of four hours may be required depending on the era involved, for example, the further back in time, the fewer records there are, so the research must be more in-depth.