My costs for family history research are calculated on an hourly basis, with additional charges for some special items if you require them (see below). These hourly fees include travel to record offices, archives and libraries within the M25. The map below shows the area covered by this (the M25 is the motorway in blue that encircles London):

M25 map

My goal is to help you meet your family history goals, whether this is a comprehensive package of as much as I can find out, or a smaller task. I will assess the information you already have, provide you with a research plan and give you an estimated price. If you prefer, I can agree a certain number of hours of work and see what I come up with.

It is important to remember that I cannot guarantee results. Records of interest to family historians in the UK are extensive but they are not complete - for every type of record, there are areas or dates missing for a variety of reasons. There are also limitations on more modern records - many official records are subject to the '100 year rule' meaning they will not be released until 100 years after the event.

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Services

My quoted price includes the following:

Search of all available online indexes and databases to provide initial information, including images of original documents where these are available.
Research in record offices and archives within the M25, including photographs or photocopies of original documents where this is permitted. Note that some record offices charge a fee for this which will be passed on to you.
Provision of the results of my research - family tree, written notes, tables etc. - in electronic format.

For an additional fee I can provide the following:

Birth, marriage and death certificates: it may be necessary to obtain these to verify information or to continue to the next stage of the research, and I will not always be able to tell you this in advance when I provide my initial quote.
Research in records offices and archives outside the M25, if the records not available online.
Results of my research on paper in addition to electronic format - nominal fee plus postage costs to send this to you.

Prices for genealogy services

Basic hourly rate:

£30 per hour. This includes the results of your research job in electronic format as agreed with you. If you prefer to pay in US dollars, the rate is $45 per hour.

Additional costs:

printing of research results - £5 per 50 pages plus postage costs

travel costs to record offices outside London: 45p per mile, plus parking fees at cost
birth, marriage and death certificates at the standard GRO rate (currently £11.00 per hard copy certificate, less for electronic/digital copies of birth/death certificates if available)

Family History Research UK Terms of business

Scope of Work and Estimates
Before starting any work, I will provide you with a clear estimate of costs for your approval. Once authorised, I will confirm a projected timeline for completion.

Any additional expenses—such as printing, certificates, or travel to record offices outside my usual working area—will always be agreed with you in advance. No extra costs will be incurred without your explicit consent.

My report may include recommendations for further research. You are under no obligation to proceed with these, and I will never undertake additional work without your prior approval.
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Payment Terms
A deposit of 50% is required before work begins, with the remaining balance payable upon completion.

Once the research is complete, I will provide a brief summary of findings along with an invoice for the outstanding balance. The full report will be delivered after payment has been received.

All invoices must be settled within 14 days.

Accepted payment methods:
• PayPal (preferred, including credit/debit card payments and all non-sterling currencies)
• Bank transfer via internet banking

Please note that I am not VAT-registered, and no VAT will be charged.
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Research Outcomes and Limitations
Genealogical research is not an exact science, and outcomes depend on the availability and quality of historical records. As such, I cannot guarantee that all requested information will be found. However, I will make every reasonable effort to locate relevant material and will clearly explain any gaps or limitations encountered.

Fees are based on time spent and are payable regardless of the results obtained, even if the information sought is unavailable.
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Time and Fees
You will only be charged for the time actually spent on your research. If a time limit is agreed and the research concludes before reaching that limit, you will only be billed for the work completed. You will never be charged for work that cannot be carried out.
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Confidentiality and Copyright
All personal information you provide will be treated in strict confidence and will not be shared with third parties without your permission.

Copyright for all reports, including images, remains with Family History Research UK. Reports may not be reproduced, distributed, or published (including online) without prior written consent.
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Data Protection
I am registered with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a data controller (registration number: Z3256706), in accordance with the UK Data Protection (Charges and Information) Regulations 2018, which incorporate the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Personal Data Collected
I may process the following types of personal information:
•    Personal details
•    Family details
•    Lifestyle and social circumstances
•    Biographical information relevant to genealogical research
This information may relate to:
•    Clients and customers
•    Family members, relatives, or associates connected to the research
•    Individuals making enquiries

Use of Your Data
Your information will only be used for the purposes of conducting the research you have requested. It will never be shared with third parties for marketing purposes.
In rare cases, it may be necessary to share limited information with third parties during the course of research. Where this is required, I will inform you in advance and obtain your explicit consent.

I may retain your contact details after the completion of the project in order to contact you in future. If you would prefer your details to be deleted, please let me know and I will remove them securely from my records.

You have the right at any time to request details of the personal information I hold about you and how it is used.

For more information about your rights, please visit:
Data protection and information rights
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Acceptance of Terms
By accepting my research proposal and instructing me to begin work, you confirm that you have read and agree to these terms and conditions.
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Pricing
Prices may vary from time to time. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to:
http://www.familyhistory-uk.net/costs.html
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Rev. June 2026

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