What does it cost to hire a professional genealogist?
Connie Lenzen

Connie Lenzen, Certified Genealogist

Your Family Tree Specialist


E-mail: ConnieLenzen@comcast.net

Address: 10411 SW 41st Avenue

Portland, OR 97219


"How much will you charge to research my family history?" The real answer is that it depends; it depends on what is needed and how long it will take to find it.

For people who want to do their own research, I've provided information about sources and methods on my "Helpful Articles" web page.

For my clients, I provide an honest piece of work for a fair price. I need to know your objectives in order to provide an estimate of charges. For busy people, see the "Bottom Line" at the end of this page.

In all projects, the first steps are always the same:

  1. Collect family information.
  2. See if someone else has done the research.
  3. Locate documents that were created around the ancestor.
  4. Analyze what is found and plan the next steps.

Genealogists follow “The Genealogical Proof Standard”[1] when we do our research. The Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) is similar to the Global Positioning System (GPS) that we use in our automobiles. The GPS in our automobiles guides us to our travel destination. The Genealogical Proof Standard guides us to our genealogical destination.

The five steps of the Genealogical Proof Standard are:

  1. We conduct a reasonably exhaustive search for all information that is or may be pertinent to the identity, relationship, event, or situation in question;
  2. We collect and include in our compilation a complete, accurate citation to the source or sources of each item of information we use;
  3. We analyze and correlate the collected information to assess its quality as evidence;
  4. We resolve any conflicts caused by items of evidence that contradict each other or are contrary to a proposed (hypothetical) solution to the question;
  5. We arrive at a soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion.

You hire me because I know where the information is located. It is simply more cost effective to hire someone who has knowledge and skill.

You hire me because I know sources that can be used to prove kinship.

You hire me because I can analyze the information for you.

You hire me because I know how to resolve conflicts in the information.

You hire me because I can write.

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. My fee is affordable, and there is no minimum block of time.

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 agreement form looks like.
There is a two-hour minimum block of time, and 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. 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.

 

[1] “The Genealogical Proof Standard,” BCG Genealogical Standards Manual (Orem, Utah: Ancestry Publishing, 2000), 1

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© 2000–2010

Connie Lenzen, CG

CG, Certified Genealogist, is a service mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by board certified genealogists after periodic evaluation, and the board name is registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office.