Professional Research Fees
Click on a menu item below to view. You’ll find a detailed explanation of each payment option that includes what that option is most suitable for, how it works, how to begin, and what any initial expenses will be.
Click on a menu item below to view. You’ll find a detailed explanation of each payment option that includes what that option is most suitable for, how it works, how to begin, and what any initial expenses will be.
Professional Genealogist Research Fees
Choose an option from the menu to the lower left to view details on our fee categories.How To Pay
Choose the payment method that’s best for you. All invoices are due upon assignment completion, or upon delivery of your report. Interest will apply on accounts more than 21 days overdue. Large cases may require ‘draw-downs’ over a longer period of time.
Pay by:
• Personal or corporate cheque in Canadian, British, or US currency
• Credit card via email or fax
• Money-order or bank draft in Canadian currency
• By international wire transfer (contact us for details on this option)
• By PayPal
* Please do not send cash by mail.
** Any required retainers need to be in-hand before a case file will begin. You will receive notification when we have your retainer.
Notes
• Accurate estimates are a challenge in professional genealogy. Every family leaves different records: some are clear and some are not. For your financial security, written budget limits can be set.
• For our established clients, GEN-FIND offers a discounted Premiere Rate.
• GEN-FIND works with other professional genealogy firms under ‘split-fee compensatory’ arrangements, or on simple time and expense. Inquiries are always welcome.
• Our Priority Service option, faster service for an increased rate, makes tight timelines easier. Forensic and probate research always work under Priority Service.
Time and Expense Fees
Suitable For: Most kinds of genealogical research
How It Works: Clients are charged an hourly or daily rate, plus the cost of any expenses your genealogists may incur while on your case. These expenses include out-of-pocket charges we incur. These can include: rental and archival fees, telephone and fax charges, out-of-area travel time, and other miscellaneous costs associated with your research. If your case requires research in an area GEN-FIND cannot easily access, we may sub-contract someone in that area and add it to your invoice as an expense.
Travel time is charged at cost. Any other out-of-pocket expenses are charged at cost-plus-15%. This accounts for your researcher’s time and cost to meet your case’s travel expenses.
Although there is no way of knowing exactly what your expenses will be, plan for approximately 10-30% of your invoice to account for expenses.
If your research results turn out to be negative, your hourly or daily rates and your expense charges will still be due. If your case happens to be large, draw-downs may be required.
How to Begin: Send GEN-FIND a written request, by mail or email, outlining the assignment and how many hours, or how much money, you would like to allocate to your project. If your project is not completed within your allotted limits, you will receive a report on the research results to-date.
Initial Expense: Family research requires a $750 (CDN) deposit.
How It Works: Clients are charged an hourly or daily rate, plus the cost of any expenses your genealogists may incur while on your case. These expenses include out-of-pocket charges we incur. These can include: rental and archival fees, telephone and fax charges, out-of-area travel time, and other miscellaneous costs associated with your research. If your case requires research in an area GEN-FIND cannot easily access, we may sub-contract someone in that area and add it to your invoice as an expense.
Travel time is charged at cost. Any other out-of-pocket expenses are charged at cost-plus-15%. This accounts for your researcher’s time and cost to meet your case’s travel expenses.
Although there is no way of knowing exactly what your expenses will be, plan for approximately 10-30% of your invoice to account for expenses.
If your research results turn out to be negative, your hourly or daily rates and your expense charges will still be due. If your case happens to be large, draw-downs may be required.
How to Begin: Send GEN-FIND a written request, by mail or email, outlining the assignment and how many hours, or how much money, you would like to allocate to your project. If your project is not completed within your allotted limits, you will receive a report on the research results to-date.
Initial Expense: Family research requires a $750 (CDN) deposit.
Flat or Fixed Fees
Suitable For: Specific, clearly defined short projects
How It Works: Clients are charged an agreed-upon amount for a specific task. For example, the extraction of civil vital records, church records, and court records are specific enough tasks; goals are clearly defined and easily estimated.
Your fee will account for our hourly rate and any anticipated expenses.
How to Begin: Send GEN-FIND a written request, by mail or email, outlining the assignment and any other relevant information, such as a last known address, last-known location, and any important biographical information.
Initial Expense: A 50% deposit is due before your assignment begins.
How It Works: Clients are charged an agreed-upon amount for a specific task. For example, the extraction of civil vital records, church records, and court records are specific enough tasks; goals are clearly defined and easily estimated.
Your fee will account for our hourly rate and any anticipated expenses.
How to Begin: Send GEN-FIND a written request, by mail or email, outlining the assignment and any other relevant information, such as a last known address, last-known location, and any important biographical information.
Initial Expense: A 50% deposit is due before your assignment begins.
Beneficiary Contingency Fees
Suitable For: Forensic, probate, and estate work with no known heirs or Administrators
How It Works: Fees and expenses are payable to the estate when GEN-FIND finds relevant heirs or beneficiaries. Located heirs and beneficiaries are asked to formally agree to a percentage-based fee: a share of their entitlement.
If the assignment concludes negatively, with no heir or beneficiary found, no fees are payable: GEN-FIND assumes responsibility for all fees and expenses.
How to Begin: Contact GEN-FIND, by mail or email, if you have an estate distribution case. We will require a copy of the Will if one exists, the gross and net values of the estate, and all available information regarding the amount of the bequest to the missing beneficiaries.
Initial Expense: None.
How It Works: Fees and expenses are payable to the estate when GEN-FIND finds relevant heirs or beneficiaries. Located heirs and beneficiaries are asked to formally agree to a percentage-based fee: a share of their entitlement.
If the assignment concludes negatively, with no heir or beneficiary found, no fees are payable: GEN-FIND assumes responsibility for all fees and expenses.
How to Begin: Contact GEN-FIND, by mail or email, if you have an estate distribution case. We will require a copy of the Will if one exists, the gross and net values of the estate, and all available information regarding the amount of the bequest to the missing beneficiaries.
Initial Expense: None.
Finder’s Fee Contingency Fees
Suitable For: Forensic, probate, and estate work with known heirs, Administrators, or Executors
How It Works: The Representative for the Deceased agrees to compensate GEN-FIND with a share of the estate entitlement for each part of the family we trace and find.
If no heirs are found, there is then no fee to the client.
How to Begin: Contact GEN-FIND, by mail or email, if you have an estate distribution case. We will require a copy of the Will if one exists, the gross and net values of the estate, and all available information regarding the amount of the bequest to the missing beneficiaries.
Initial Expense: None.
How It Works: The Representative for the Deceased agrees to compensate GEN-FIND with a share of the estate entitlement for each part of the family we trace and find.
If no heirs are found, there is then no fee to the client.
How to Begin: Contact GEN-FIND, by mail or email, if you have an estate distribution case. We will require a copy of the Will if one exists, the gross and net values of the estate, and all available information regarding the amount of the bequest to the missing beneficiaries.
Initial Expense: None.
Percentage-of-Completion Fees
Suitable For: Large projects that require budget expenditure control
How It Works: This fee option is similar to Time and Expense fees, except billings are more frequent than just at the end of the assignment. Your project is charged based on research targets and set dates.
If your research results turn out to be negative, your hourly or daily rates and your expense charges will still be due.
How to Begin: Send GEN-FIND a written request, by mail or email, outlining the assignment and how many hours, or how much money, you would like to allocate to your project. We will get back to you with further details.
Initial Expense: A $750 (CDN) deposit is due before your assignment begins.
* For forensic, probate, and estate cases, we recommend that all clients seek court or personal representative approval for payment of our fees. Unless otherwise provided for in writing by GEN-FIND Research Associates, Inc., the client is responsible for payment of our fees and any late charges incurred.
How It Works: This fee option is similar to Time and Expense fees, except billings are more frequent than just at the end of the assignment. Your project is charged based on research targets and set dates.
If your research results turn out to be negative, your hourly or daily rates and your expense charges will still be due.
How to Begin: Send GEN-FIND a written request, by mail or email, outlining the assignment and how many hours, or how much money, you would like to allocate to your project. We will get back to you with further details.
Initial Expense: A $750 (CDN) deposit is due before your assignment begins.
* For forensic, probate, and estate cases, we recommend that all clients seek court or personal representative approval for payment of our fees. Unless otherwise provided for in writing by GEN-FIND Research Associates, Inc., the client is responsible for payment of our fees and any late charges incurred.
Free Preliminary Assessment
As genealogists, we’ll be the first to tell you that research is important. The same goes for you, when considering working with GEN-FIND.
Send us a one-to-two page outline containing the information you know and the goal you want to meet. We’ll send you a free assessment that will explain our estimates for your success and a rough overall cost you can expect from your project.
Contact GEN-FIND by mail or email, or you can download and complete a research account application and research assessment forms. If corresponding by mail, please include a long self-addressed stamped envelope, or an international reply coupon.
Send us a one-to-two page outline containing the information you know and the goal you want to meet. We’ll send you a free assessment that will explain our estimates for your success and a rough overall cost you can expect from your project.
Contact GEN-FIND by mail or email, or you can download and complete a research account application and research assessment forms. If corresponding by mail, please include a long self-addressed stamped envelope, or an international reply coupon.