Scottish Ancestry Research

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will the search cost?

Charges are £18.00 per hour inclusive of all fees incurred except photocopying costs. Payment is made in sterling or your local currency; if so this is subject to the current exchange rate plus bank commission charges. Payment by credit card is also acceptable through paypal.

Can I trace living relatives?

Yes. A forward search can be undertaken to find living relatives either for legal or family reasons. This is one aspect of research which I find particularly satisfying.
Many families have been reunited having lost contact in previous generations. Adoptees can also be helped to find their birth families although this is a sensitive issue and one which needs to be discussed before embarking on a search. An estimate of the time required will be given before commencement of the search.

How is the information presented?

In the form of a comprehensive report including full transcriptions of all certificates relating to your family (unless otherwise stated) together with references consulted during the course of the search. The report is usually accompanied by a brief pedigree chart.

How long will I have to wait?

A waiting list is in operation. However, if the search is urgent (perhaps due to co-incide with a planned visit to Scotland) this will be undertaken more quickly. Charlotte is happy to discuss individual search arrangements.

How much information must I have?

It is not necessary to have a great deal of information to proceed with a search; all that is required is a name and date of birth, marriage or death pertaining to Scotland. It is important to provide as much information as possible to save time and money searching for known facts.

How long will the search take?

An initial search of four to six hours is usually suggested to ascertain how much information may be found for your family. This can then be followed by further research building up your family history over a period of time. If no information is found the search will be curtailed before too much expense is incurred.

and finally -

Most people ask to have the male line researched. However, the female lines make an equal contribution to you personally and to your family history generally. You can be 100% sure who was the mother of the child but can never be sure who the father was!!

Charlotte looks forward to sharing your family history with you.

She will be delighted to answer any further questions and send you her explanatory leaflet or you can download the leaflet here. (300Kb pdf)

email her at charlotte@dmains.co.uk