Why Hire a Professional Genealogy Researcher?

Many people are curious about their family’s history, details and secrets. Throughout the last several years this type of curiosity has created a popular field among researchers, who now are referred to as genealogy experts. Many people may be hesitant to hire a genealogy researcher but once you start looking for family clues yourself you’ll see why the job has become so popular over the years. To ensure your curiosity doesn’t turn into a full-time, unpaid researcher position you might to look into hiring a genealogical expert.

There are several advantages to hiring a professional researcher, rather than doing the “dirty work” yourself. Genealogy researchers often offer their clients the advantage of speed. There’s no doubt these experienced researchers have developed methods to their madness and can complete a search faster and more efficiently than a beginner.

Additionally, genealogists are trained professionals. They know where to begin their research and how to find the best and most pertinent information. They know what resources hold the most valuable information and those that might be a complete waste of time. Trained genealogists also have access to records that may be found offline. Try choosing a research agency or individual genealogist that has close access to a countless number of sources, like the National Archives.

Genealogists usually know what resources to trust. If you come across conflicting information, i.e. two sources give you different dates, how will you know which one is right? Genealogists come in contact with conflicting resources all the time and have the experience necessary to find out correct dates and information. On top of that, genealogists also have access to restricted resources, which will help them fight conflicting information. Many archives have strict rules and limit access to professionals only. Genealogists will often be granted more access to these resources than you will.

If you’ve decided on hiring a professional genealogist but find yourself confused about the different types, here is a list that will break down specific qualifications and traits:

• Professional Genealogist: This term refers to genealogists who have knowledge and experience of proper research methods and techniques and they also tend to uphold the high standards found in their field of work. However, be sure to ask if they’ve been certified as a professional or if they’ve just decided to insert that before their name.
• Accredited Genealogist: This term implies that the specific genealogist has passed an accredited program, originally derived from the Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and now administered by the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists. This commission utilizes a program that tests genealogists on theoretical research methodologies and also requires them to sign a code of ethics and renew their application every 5 years.
• Certified Genealogist. The Board of Certification of Genealogists tests and certifies researchers in the United States, Canada and all over the world. Genealogists who are certified by the board also must agree to a code of ethics and renew their certification every 5 years.

Whichever genealogy expert you decide to go with, make sure you ask the right questions and get a feel for their experience and background. It’s also important to note that just because you hired a professional, doesn’t mean you’ll receive results; sometimes there is simply nothing to find. Therefore, you shouldn’t trust genealogists who promise information beforehand. Also be aware that most genealogists are paid by the amount of time they spend researching, not on the amount of information that is found.

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