Genealogical Research- $40 per hour*
We will work with you to build a project that fits your needs. All projects are open-ended and customizable based on your budget. Clients will receive a full research report with source citations. Pedigree charts, family group sheets etc will be provided if that is what your project calls for.
Let us help you get things in order
Organization and Archival protection of established family archives- Prices vary depending on scope of project.
* Incidentals
Incidentals (Such as travel costs, postage, parking, repository fees, copies etc.) are an added expense. Prices vary depending on scope of project and the client will be billed, if needed. Clients will be notified when the need for incidentals occurs. The client always has the power to say whether they want an incidental option or not.
Discounts
Ask us what kind of discounts we offer!
Payment
Payment options: PayPal is preferred, but we also accept bank checks and money orders. You choose what is comfortable for you.
Gift Certificates
Do you know someone who would like to learn more about their family lineage? We offer gift certificates! Contact us to learn more.
Terms of Agreement
ETHICS AND PRIVACY- Our Code of Ethics is very simple and mirrors that of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG): We will keep confidential any information about living people or sensitive matters, which are not already a matter of public record.
RESEARCH AGREEMENT- Before starting research we will send you a draft research agreement for approval. The agreement will set out the objectives of the research, the number of hours you wish to authorize, terms of payment, the format and timeframe for reporting, and will include sections on ethics, privacy and copyright. Once you approve the research agreement, please send it back to CMS Research and Genealogy. We will then sign it and provide you with a copy.
UNEXPECTED RESULTS- Sometimes family history research is not for the easily shocked. If you are not prepared to uncover uncomfortable or embarassing information about your ancestors than it is best not to start researching them. Our Code of Ethics requires us to refrain from withholding, supressing, or knowingly misquoting or misinterpreting sources or data, so if we find such information when researching, we must report it to you. What you do with that information is completely up to you.
UNSUCCESSFUL RESEARCH- It is impossible to predict in advance whether research will produce the desired results. Because we put in the time and effort to do the research, we have to charge for time spent on research, even if it draws a blank. However, we will always try to keep time spent on unproductive research to an absolute minimum. Rather than proceed, we will stop work and report back to you to explain the problem and receive further instructions.
AVOIDING DUPLICATION OF INFORMATION- We will spend some time with you before research begins, identifying what information you and your family already possess. It is important that you share everything you know at this stage. If you do not and we end up researching things you already know, it will be a waste of time and money for all concerned.
COPYRIGHT- All factual information in our research reports can be freely used but, under American law, copyright of the research report as a whole belongs to the author. We are happy for clients to share our reports privately but do ask that you seek the author’s agreement if you wish to publish what we have written. For more information, please visit US Legal.
We ask this to protect our intellectual property, the way in which we have conducted our research, the discoveries we have made, and how we have structured our analysis and arguments. Without copyright someone could pass off our work as their own and take credit that rightfully belongs to us. They could also benefit financially from our work by reselling it in printed or digital form.
Copyrights protect our professional reputation. Without it, someone could publish our work in a truncated, altered, or misleading form, while attributing it to us.
PAYMENT- Please not that we have a 10 hour minimum on all research projects, except those projects that are only document searches locally. Our preferred method of payment is by PayPal. This is a very simple, speedy, and safe process. If you wish to use a bank check or money order, please let us know when ordering a service. Cash will NOT be accepted.
We ask our overseas clients to pay by PayPal, which handles all monetary conversions for us. Thank you!
If you have any questions at all, please let us know.
A Word From Some Of Our Clients
“CMS Research & Genealogy has been an absolute joy to work with. I purchased the “The Gold” package as a Father’s Day gift. They really went above and beyond! The look on my father’s face when he opened that binder (very thorough and easy to follow) was worth every penny. CMS Research & Genealogy found more about family than we ever knew! Now he shows anyone who will let him. I can’t thank them enough!” – Kim, Pennsylvania
“…..professional and educated research services….”- Martin, Arizona
“…..great communication….”- Jessica, Alabama
“…..so amazing to learn more about where my family came from….”- Robert, Montana
“With a historian and folklorist on staff (whom I had access to for the entire project), I learned more about my family in the last three months than in the last thirty years.”….- Kathy, Pennsylvania
CMS Research & Genealogy 