How much $?
Jerry Lifsey
is not interested in researching themselves, how much could/would a
professional genealogist charge for that service?
Is that what professional genealogists do? Create individuals' family
trees?
Robert Heiling
> If someone wanted their family tree documented (as far back as possible) but
> is not interested in researching themselves, how much could/would a
> professional genealogist charge for that service?
They usually charge an hourly rate and depending on how much you want done the
costs could very easily be in the thousands upon thousands of dollars. Take a
look at: http://www.apgen.org/articles/hire.html#Costs and also look at:
http://www.apgen.org/articles/hire.html and
http://www.CyndisList.com/profess.htm#General
> Is that what professional genealogists do? Create individuals' family
> trees?
That's what they do! or any portion thereof. There are high costs involved
though and that's one reason you see a lot of people here doing their own
research.
HTH
Bob
Singhals
Awww, Bob! Professionals don't "create" family trees -- any
amateur can do that. A professional *RESEARCHES* and
Documents family trees. (g)
To address the cost issue further -- consider: I probably
spent close to 500 hours finding my
great-great-great-grandmother's arrival record; even the
least costly paid genealogist/genealogical researcher is
charging $15 an hour. And this was when I already knew she
was came about 1837-39.
Cheryl
Robert Heiling
> Robert Heiling wrote:
> >
> > Jerry Lifsey wrote:
> >
> > > If someone wanted their family tree documented (as far back as possible) but
> > > is not interested in researching themselves, how much could/would a
> > > professional genealogist charge for that service?
> >
> > They usually charge an hourly rate and depending on how much you want done the
> > costs could very easily be in the thousands upon thousands of dollars. Take a
> > look at: http://www.apgen.org/articles/hire.html#Costs and also look at:
> > http://www.apgen.org/articles/hire.html and
> > http://www.CyndisList.com/profess.htm#General
> >
> > > Is that what professional genealogists do? Create individuals' family
> > > trees?
> >
> > That's what they do! or any portion thereof. There are high costs involved
> > though and that's one reason you see a lot of people here doing their own
> > research.
>
> Awww, Bob! Professionals don't "create" family trees -- any
> amateur can do that.
But Professionals do it better. Don't they?<g>
> A professional *RESEARCHES* and
> Documents family trees. (g)
That's what you & I do - hopefully.<g>
> To address the cost issue further -- consider: I probably
> spent close to 500 hours finding my
> great-great-great-grandmother's arrival record; even the
> least costly paid genealogist/genealogical researcher is
> charging $15 an hour. And this was when I already knew she
> was came about 1837-39.
Let's see - hmmmm - that would be $7500? For just ONE record?? But heck, a
Professional would have found it right away - right? (and still charged $7500<lol>)
> Cheryl
Bob :-)
wordsmith
> Jerry Lifsey wrote:
<snip>
>
> > Is that what professional genealogists do? Create individuals' family
> > trees?
I think I prefer the word "research" for family trees rather than
"create." There has been a great deal of, shall we say, creative
thinking in establishing family trees rather than relying on evidence,
be it primary, secondary or circumstantial.
> That's what they do! or any portion thereof. There are high costs involved
> though and that's one reason you see a lot of people here doing their own
> research.
That is absolutely true. Volunteer researchers may look up a few
pieces of information for no charge except expenses for things like
photocopies. An experienced, credentialed genealogist may charge
$50/hr or more. While many of us do as much research ourselves as we
can, there are times that hiring a professional can really expedite
the process. IMHO, there is no substitute for on-site research by
someone who is thoroughly familiar with resources in a particular
geographic area. I don't even want to think what I've shelled out over
the years for research in Cleveland, or England, or Germany, or
wherever--places I can't get to.
Ellie
Guy Etchells
trees, a glance through the "Visitations" will soon confirm that,
however now they tend to stick to the facts and research.
The only difference between a "professional genealogist" and an amateur
is the "professional genealogists" will charge for the privilege of
depriving you the enjoyment of finding and even some, rare now but still
happen, chance to handle the documents your ancestors signed hundreds of
years ago.
It may come as a surprise to you to learn that many amateurs may hold
more facsimiles of original registers etc. for their area of interest
than professional genealogists, who, due to covering wider areas tend to
rely on using record offices and archives and are therefore restricted
by opening hours etc..
The constraint put on every "professional genealogist" by the fact of
charging for a service means that unless specifically requested they
cannot follow wild hunches or pursue relatively minor pieces of
information that transform a bare tree into a full family history.
It should also be mentioned that perhaps the main reason for using a
"professional genealogist", that of distance between the researcher and
the original record has dwindled enormously by the use of
microfilm/fiche and now cd, so that everyone can now be within
reasonable travelling distance of facsimiles of the main records.
I have met many people in the course of my family history research who
have professed no interest in researching their trees but have changed
their minds and become enthusiastic researchers gaining much enjoyment,
knowledge and new interests along the way.
A "professional genealogists" will research your family history for you
if that is what you wish and most will give good value for money,
however they cannot ever give you the full insight into your family and
their lives that you will receive by doing the research by yourself.
Cheers
Guy
--
Wakefield England
http://freespace.virgin.net/guy.etchells Transcripts, Parish
Records, Calendar, Scaleable Map of Uk. Link to LDS website,
Abbreviations, Returns of Owners of Lands etc. etc.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~framland/dh/ Whitefield
Transcripts, Etch/ells Transcripts
http://gye.future.easyspace.com Worldwide Cemetery Links, Monumental
Inscriptions, War Graves, etc.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~framland/CHURCH/church.htm
Churches & MIs. in the Wakefield Area
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~framland/Ossett/obmi1.htm
Transcripts of 1st Baptist Burial ground, Ossett
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~framland/tmi.htm Photos of
St. James Churchyard, Wakefield
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~framland/stcr/stjsc1.htm
M.Is. in St. John the Evangelist Churchyard, Staincross
> If someone wanted their family tree documented (as far back as possible) but
> is not interested in researching themselves, how much could/would a
> professional genealogist charge for that service?
>
Jerry Lifsey
I personally find it interesting to *research* my own family tree though it
is too time consuming especially when I have family from Germany. I have a
"cousin" who traveled to court houses over the last 30 years to document
over 3,000 ancestors.
There's only ~600 Lifseys in the country so at least that part is easy.
I asked about genealogical services b/c I'm a financial advisor and I have
an idea for a new trust which would require donumenting a family tree.
Thank you for all your information.
"Jerry Lifsey" <jerrylifsey*@home.com> wrote in message
news:hhxP7.41620$py4.24...@news2.nash1.tn.home.com...
dave...@spamcop.net
> If someone wanted their family tree documented (as far back as possible) but
> is not interested in researching themselves, how much could/would a
> professional genealogist charge for that service?
Well, given that they charge by the hour, and it could take decades ...
> Is that what professional genealogists do? Create individuals' family
> trees?
Generally, specific queries. An example: I hired a professional in
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, to try to find the marriage record of my
great grandparents, John Black and Geda Johnson. Note, *try*. He
didn't find it, but the agreement was on the time spent in the attempt,
not in the delivery of an answer.
The good news, in your case, is that your surname at least is unusual,
which means it's a *heck* of a lot easier to research than, say,
"Miller". Just the online information is extensive. For instance, I see
you're in tennessee (from your newsreader headers). When I go here:
http://www.familysearch.org/
-> search
last name: Lifsey (exact spelling on)
I see quite a few hits, including two generations of Carl Lifsey's from
Tennessee, a marriage of J.T. Lifsey and F.S. Neal in 1884 in Carroll, TN,
and so on. There are other families from Georgia and Virginia, and it
appears to be an English name.
So, depending on how lucky you are, a lot of the research may already be
out there. Of course, anything online is just a pointer to the sources,
and you have to consider it as a clue, rather than a fact, but it's
certainly a good starting point.
Perhaps you would enjoy finding out how far you can go on your own, and
then hire a researcher for specifics when you get stuck. Of course,
you can certainly post queries here, there are lots of helpful folks who
are happy to try to help, and there is an amazing amount of expertese here
for the asking.
Best regards,
Dave Hinz
Jerry Lifsey
A trade ship captain from Great Britain landed at Virginia in 1690. The
first Lifseys lived in Emporia, VA then some moved down through NC to
Atlanta, then to Nashville and out to Jackson, TN and then everywhere in the
early 1900's.
Shouldn't a person, when contracting with a professional genealogist, add to
the "contract" or agreement that the *attempt* should be documented before
payment?
Do people have to "register" or sign a log at the county administration
building when requesting to view genealogical records?
Is there any proof that a professional genealogist could provide that they
*did* attempt to do the research instead of just agreeing to the request and
then sit back and wait for the agreed upon deadline/payment date?
<dave...@spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:3c0f8b63$0$30967$272e...@news.execpc.com...
Robert Heiling
> <snip>
> Shouldn't a person, when contracting with a professional genealogist, add to
> the "contract" or agreement that the *attempt* should be documented before
> payment?
> <snip>
> Is there any proof that a professional genealogist could provide that they
> *did* attempt to do the research instead of just agreeing to the request and
> then sit back and wait for the agreed upon deadline/payment date?
How is it different from hiring an attorney, financial advisor<g>, or any other
professional? One first requests and checks the person's professional
references. Then the services required are outlined in some fashion - perhaps a
contract. There is a product in terms of various documents. The statement
includes a detail of which services were performed. How is it different from
being prudent in any other financial dealings?
Bob