A useful family tree is more than a collection of online hints. Each parent-child connection should be tested against reliable records, conflicting evidence should be resolved and uncertainties should be stated honestly.
What family tree research can include
- Building a tree from a known person backwards
- Extending one selected ancestral line
- Reviewing and correcting an existing online tree
- Finding records for a family branch or geographic area
- Adding full source references and research notes
- Preparing a narrative report that explains the family’s story
Define the scope before research begins
Family-tree projects work best when the first stage has a clear boundary: one person, one ancestral line, one branch of a family or a stated number of research hours. A broad request to find “everything” can be divided into stages so that you can review the evidence and decide which line should be followed next.
A focused verification or a small record question may fit the Quick Search package. Building or correcting several generations usually requires a larger defined research stage or hourly work.
Records, platforms and access
I may use civil registration, census returns, parish and church registers, probate, newspapers, military records, immigration sources, archive catalogues and other collections relevant to the time and place. I regularly work with platforms including Ancestry and FamilySearch, alongside specialist databases and regional archives.
If you already have an online tree, you can provide a view-only or collaborator link where the platform allows it, or send a GEDCOM file, screenshots and copies of the records you have used. Please do not send account passwords.
An evidence-led approach
I begin with the most recent reliably identified person and work backwards one relationship at a time. Online trees may provide clues, but I do not treat them as evidence unless their claims can be independently verified. Where records disagree, I compare dates, places, occupations, relatives and original sources before deciding what the evidence supports.
What you receive
The agreed output may include a sourced family tree, a written research report, copies or references for key records, a research log and recommendations for unresolved questions. The exact combination depends on whether the project is building a new tree, checking an existing one or investigating one difficult branch.
Timescale and research limits
The timetable depends on the number of generations, the places involved, record availability and whether certificates or archive material must be ordered. I provide an estimated timetable after reviewing the starting information and proposed scope.
No responsible researcher can promise that every line will reach a particular century or generation. Records may not survive, names may be too common to distinguish safely, or the evidence may support only a probable conclusion. In that situation, I document what was checked, explain the limitation and identify the strongest next step rather than adding an unsupported person to the tree.
Good starting information
- The most recent confirmed names, dates and places
- Copies of certificates, family documents and photographs
- Links or exports from existing family trees
- Previous research reports or notes
- Whether you want breadth across several branches or depth on one line
See the research in practice
The Louisa Gierschick case study shows how a family line moved beyond online databases through direct church correspondence, while the Henry Logan case study demonstrates the care needed when documentary records, migration and DNA must be considered together.