Hourly research is a flexible way to make progress on your family history, either because you are unable to do the research yourself, before commissioning a Six Generation Family History Report or to extend one once it’s complete.
It is particularly useful where a focused question needs answering, or where you want professional input without committing to a full report.
How this fits with the Foundation Family History Report
Hourly research can be used to:
Test whether a Foundation Family History Report is likely to be productive
Clarify a specific issue before broader research begins
Extend research beyond the original scope of a completed Foundation Report
Explore a single line, document, or unanswered question
Where appropriate, findings from hourly research can later be incorporated into a full Foundation Report.
What hourly research is suitable for
Checking or correcting an existing family tree
Investigating a specific ancestor, date, or place
Following up a particular record or lead
Exploring a potential brick wall
Advice on next steps and research strategy.
How it works
Research is carried out in agreed blocks of time. Before work begins, we will confirm:
The research question or objective
The number of hours to be undertaken
The records or sources to be prioritised
At the end of the agreed time, you will receive a written summary of findings and recommendations.
Rates
£17.50 per half hour
Minimum booking: 1 hour
This rate reflects local market pricing for professional family history research and includes time spent analysing records and reporting findings.
Professional standards
All research follows the same careful, evidence-based approach used in the Foundation Family History Report, with findings clearly explained and limitations stated openly.
Next steps
If you would like to begin with hourly research or discuss whether a Foundation Family History Report would be more suitable, please get in touch for an informal, no-obligation conversation.